Ralf Rangnick insisted the Manchester United players were following his instructions despite seeing his side fall to a 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
United shipped four or more goals for the sixth time in their last 30 Premier League games and have now failed to win 17 of their 28 games during Rangnick's spell as interim manager.
The German said United couldn't deal with Brighton's wing-backs in the first half and at the break he made two changes, bringing Fred and Edinson Cavani on for Nemanja Matic and Anthony Elanga.
READ MORE: United player ratings vs Brighton
That saw United switch to a 4-2-2-2 system but it failed to stem the tide and the Seagulls scored three times in the first 15 minutes of the second half to rub salt into United's wounds.
Before the third goal Rangnick was seen gesturing furiously at his team to push further up the pitch, but they continued to retreat as Brighton piled on the pressure.
Asked if there was a 'disconnect' between what he was asking for and what his players were doing, Rangnick said: "No, but at that time it was already, with the early second goal, I was fully aware that it now gets even more difficult.
"The question was who would score the next goal, was it a 1-1 or a 2-0, with two sixes and with Juan Mata and Bruno as the two 10s on the wing and two strikers it was clear we had four offensive players and even more spaces.
“In the first half our biggest problem was their offensive wing-backs and how to stop them, how to stop the diagonal balls with our back four."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
