Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged his side “need to change” after a dramatic 4-3 loss to Brentford on Sunday deepened their Premier League struggles.
United’s winless league run extended to six games as Kevin Schade scored twice at the Gtech Community Stadium, further compounding a disappointing domestic campaign. The Red Devils now sit 15th in the table, staring down the possibility of their worst top-flight finish since the 1973-74 relegation season.
Amorim, who took charge in November following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, made eight changes to the side that triumphed 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League just days earlier. With key players rested, United fielded the third-youngest starting XI in Premier League history averaging just under 23 years old but the inexperience showed as Brentford capitalized on defensive errors.
“It was a reflection of our season,” Amorim said post-match. “We started well and controlled the game, but we struggled with set-pieces and throw-ins. The players have to understand that we can’t continue like this. We know the context of the season, and we need to change that.”
Mason Mount gave United an early lead with his first goal of the season, offering a rare positive in a turbulent campaign. However, a Luke Shaw own goal and Schade’s opener flipped the match before halftime. Schade struck again after the break, heading home from a Bryan Mbeumo cross, and Yoane Wissa added a fourth as United’s defense collapsed.
Late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo offered some consolation but couldn’t prevent a 12th league defeat under Amorim’s tenure.
Despite the loss, Amorim praised Mount’s commitment: “It’s not just his goal but his positioning, his intelligence. He’s training incredibly hard, sometimes too hard. I even have to pull him off the pitch to protect him. He wants to play more, and I’m really happy with him.”
United now face mounting pressure to turn things around ahead of the summer, with Amorim hinting at major changes to the squad in the off-season.
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