A seemingly spineless Manchester United suffered a damaging 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday, leaving manager Ruben Amorim under intense scrutiny.
The Red Devils’ woes began early as Igor Thiago punished defensive errors to score twice inside the first 20 minutes, exposing United’s frailties.
Benjamin Sesko pulled one back for United with his first goal for the club, offering a brief respite before halftime.
Fernandes Misses Crucial Penalty
The turning point came late in the second half when captain Bruno Fernandes had a golden opportunity to salvage a point.
His tame penalty was comfortably saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, leaving United vulnerable.
Moments later, Mathias Jensen sealed the result in stoppage time with a ferocious strike, compounding
Amorim’s misery.
Amorim’s Struggles Continue
Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November, has seen United lose three of their six Premier League games this season and currently sits 13th in the table.
A humiliating League Cup exit at fourth-tier Grimsby and a 3-0 loss at Manchester City earlier this season had already raised questions about his future. Although a win over Chelsea last weekend offered temporary relief, defeat to a Brentford side managed by an inexperienced coach, Keith Andrews, reignites doubts about his ability to stabilise the club.
Tactical and Defensive Failings
United’s defensive lapses were glaring.
Thiago’s early opener came after a lofted pass from Jordan Henderson, and his second goal followed a close-range poach after Kevin Schade’s initial shot was parried.
Sesko’s goal provided a rare spark, but sloppy defending continued to haunt United, exemplified by Diogo Dalot’s failure to contain Schade, which almost led to another Brentford chance.
Next Steps
Amorim now faces immense pressure to secure victory against newly promoted Sunderland at Old Trafford before a daunting trip to champions Liverpool.
Despite co-owner Jim Ratcliffe’s prior backing, continued poor results could place Amorim’s tenure in jeopardy, emphasising the urgent need for cohesion and defensive stability in a struggling United side.
(with AFP inputs)
