Brentford 4, Manchester United 3
Distracted and under strength Manchester United were flattered by a 4-3 scoreline as they lost again to Brentford in London.
In reality United have put all their eggs in the Europa League basket with Athletic Club aiming to overhaul a massive 3-0 deficit from last week’s first leg in Spain.
The likes of Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Noussair Mazraoui, and Rasmus Hojlund sat out from this game with Chido Obi given a chance upfront.
In the event, Harry Maguire – who is managing an injury – had to come on after 35 minutes after Mathijs De Ligt – only just back from injury himself – was forced off again.
The Bees could be playing in Europe if they keep up this form as they recovered from going a goal down after 14 minutes when Mason Mount put the Reds in the lead.
Brentford forced an own goal from Luke Shaw to level things up after 27 minutes before Kevin Schade put United’s hosts into a 33rd minute lead.
Two further goals in the 70th and 74th minutes from Schade and Yoan Wissa stunned United who found themselves 4-1 down before Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, with an injury time goal on his comeback from a long lay off, gave the result an undeserved air of respectability.
The eventual closeness of the scoreline will fool few people though as United – already confirmed safe – are in serious danger of finishing a Premier League era worst 17th having succumbed to a 16th defeat of the season.
They are yet to earn 40 points in a wretched domestic campaign and their three remaining Premier League games are largely meaningless to them as everything is clearly being put into the Europa League where victory could mean glory for the supporters, credibility in the bank for manager Ruben Amorim, and a much bigger budget to boost the playing squad next term as England’s sixth Champions League club.