Ruben Amorim on Sunday admitted Manchester United “need to change” after a dismal 4-3 defeat at Brentford underlined the problems facing the Old Trafford head coach.
Kevin Schade scored twice at Gtech Community Stadium as United’s miserable English Premier League campaign took another blow, with their winless league run stretching to six matches.
Amorim made eight changes to his starting lineup as he rested key players after Thursday last week’s 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg.
Photo: AFP
Fielding the third youngest starting lineup in Premier League history — with an average age of 22 years and 270 days — United’s raw rookies were unable to avoid a 12th defeat in Amorim’s 24 league games.
United are languishing in 15th place as they try to avoid their worst finish since being relegated in 1973-1974.
Amorim has been critical of United’s players on several occasions and he again conceded there is a need for a close-season overhaul of his squad.
“It was a reflection of our season. We started well and controlled well, we suffered with the set-pieces and throw-ins, so we knew we would struggle against them,” Amorim said. “The players have to understand we cannot do this anymore, we know the context of the season and we need to change that.”
Mason Mount scored his first goal of the season to put United ahead, but a Luke Shaw own-goal and Schade’s strike put Brentford ahead by halftime.
Schade got his second with a close-range header from Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery, before Yoane Wissa bagged the fourth as United’s defense collapsed.
Alejandro Garnacho’s 82nd-minute rocket from the edge of the penalty area and Amad Diallo’s stoppage-time effort put a little gloss on the scoreline for an outclassed United.
Elsewhere, Chelsea defeated champions Liverpool 3-1, Brighton & Hove Albion drew 1-1 with Newcastle United and West Ham United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium.
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