Manchester United’s struggles intensified on Saturday as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, a result that piles further pressure on Rúben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford, Softfootball reports.
Igor Thiago was the star of the show, the forward capitalised on bad positioning from Maguire to put the hosts in front in the ninth minute. The Brazilian struck again in the first half after more miserable defending from Amorim’s side. Benjamin Sesko reduced the deficit with a scrappy goal and United looked in a good position to launch a comeback.
United looked sharper after Sesko’s strike but continued to struggle in defence. Bayındır was called upon either side of the hour mark to rebuff two more Brentford efforts, Van den Berg and Dango Ouattara both testing the goalkeeper from inside the penalty area.
United only have themselves to blame for the result, their third defeat in a run of four-game winless run at Brentford, that was sealed when Mathias Jensen struck in a superb third goal in stoppage-time as posted by Brentford on their X handle.
Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire had a day to forget. Amorim had arrived in west London hoping to finally win successive league matches as United boss. Instead, he left fearing the sack after the latest low moment since he moved from Sporting Lisbon to replace Erik ten Hag in November, 2024.
Below is a post-match video of Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian forward reflecting on the game and openly expressing his frustration following the defeat to Brentford.
United have lost three of their six Premier League games this season, winning just twice, and are languishing in 13th place. A humiliating League Cup loss at fourth-tier Grimsby in August had fuelled speculation over Amorim’s future, with the boss admitting he had thought about quitting and often hated his players.
The 40-year-old was under fire again after miserable 3-0 loss at Manchester City before last weekend’s 2-1 win over Chelsea gave him a little breathing space. With six matches now played, United find themselves a long way off the top of the league.
Amorim, as things stand, looks unlikely to last until the summer. The writing is on the wall. And, for the former Sporting Lisbon boss, it certainly doesn’t make for pleasant reading.
Losing to a Brentford team beaten three times in their first five games under inexperienced boss Keith Andrews was a fresh indignity for Amorim, who will face renewed questions about his ability to revive United as the international break looms.
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