Manchester United's Struggles Continue After Brentford Defeat
The reaction to Manchester United's 4-0 defeat at Brentford on August 13, 2022, was swift and severe.
BBC pundit Chris Sutton remarked that United had hit "rock bottom," while Sky Sports analyst Karen Carney asserted that the club "can't get any lower." Former captain Gary Neville described his old team as "rotten." However, in hindsight, Sutton and Carney may have been mistaken.
Following that embarrassing loss at the Gtech Community Stadium, United invested over half a billion pounds in new players, yet they concluded the 2024-25 season in 15th place, marking their worst finish since their relegation in the 1973-74 season.
While there were some positive moments during this period, including victories in the EFL Cup and FA Cup, and qualification for the Champions League, the club also faced significant embarrassments. They conceded six goals in a defeat to Manchester City in 2022 and suffered a record 7-0 loss to Liverpool in March 2023. Additionally, they were beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace in May 2024, and a late rally only allowed them to lose 4-3 to Brentford in their most recent match at the venue.
This summer, United spent another £219.6 million on four new players. Although goalkeeper Senne Lammens had not yet joined, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo—who scored against United in 2022—and Benjamin Sesko were all part of the squad that suffered a historic defeat to League Two's Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup in August, marking the first time United had lost to a fourth-tier team.
Rather than hitting rock bottom three years ago, that loss was merely another setback in a prolonged decline from their former glory under Sir Alex Ferguson. This weekend, United will return to West London, aiming to take small steps toward reclaiming their past success.
A victory would mark the first time they have won consecutive league matches under manager Ruben Amorim, and the first time they have achieved this since following up a 2-0 victory at Brighton on the final day of the 2023-24 season with a 1-0 win over Fulham at the start of the last season.
This statistic is striking, both for United and Amorim, who previously led Sporting to a 12-match winning streak in the autumn of 2021 and had won 16 out of 17 games—drawing just once—before moving to England. It is no wonder he is cautious about looking too far ahead.
"It’s really hard, but I also understand it’s a different club, with different pressures in a completely different league," he said. "That feeling of winning and for it to be really normal to win, I struggle with a lot. It’s in our hands to change things. We just need to win the next one and do everything to win the next one after that."
Why Did It Get Worse After the Brentford Defeat?
Some reports suggest that United panicked in the wake of their heavy defeat at Brentford, while others dispute this notion.
Brazilian midfield star Casemiro was high on their list of targets, alongside France's Adrien Rabiot, with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong at the top. It is now acknowledged that United spent too much time that summer pursuing Ten Hag's primary target, and the defeat to Brentford hastened the search for alternatives.
Once United offered substantial wages that matched his salary at Real Madrid, Casemiro was quick to accept. A four-year deal was finalized, with an option for an additional year, by which time he would be 35.
The merits of this transfer remain a topic of heated discussion. Casemiro excelled in his first season, but his form later declined, exposing his lack of mobility—a factor recognized during negotiations that he would need a 'runner' alongside him in midfield.
However, following Ten Hag's dismissal, Casemiro gradually won over Amorim and was chosen to start alongside captain Bruno Fernandes in the Europa League final last May, rather than the £42.3 million Manuel Ugarte.
Casemiro has started four out of five Premier League matches this season but will miss the upcoming game against Brentford due to a red card received against Chelsea.
The arrival of Antony, 20 days after the defeat at Brentford, raises questions about the decision to spend £81.3 million on a player whom former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer valued at only £30 million. Given Ten Hag's previous work with Antony at Ajax and his urgent need for another wide player, it is hard to believe he did not exert pressure on United's executives after the Brentford loss.
Ajax, with former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar still in charge, was in a strong negotiating position after allowing Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez to move to Old Trafford that summer, warning that no other players would be sold. Yet, was £81.3 million justifiable?
If these had been the only questionable transfers since the Brentford debacle, the damage might have been manageable. United did finish third that season, a feat they have only surpassed twice since Ferguson's retirement in 2013. However, numerous arrivals since then have left their impact uncertain, with some already moved on, including players brought in under the new Sir Jim Ratcliffe regime.
Players like Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, and Noussair Mazraoui have evaded criticism due to their form, while Mbeumo and Cunha have shown promise among the new signings. Yet, improved statistics have yet to translate into consistent results.
As United heads into this weekend's fixtures, they find themselves in the bottom half of the table, a position they have occupied for all but one week since their 4-0 victory over Everton last December in Amorim's second league match in charge. Remarkably, since finishing third under Ten Hag, they have never finished a match round higher than sixth, and even a win this weekend may not change that.
Another defeat at the Gtech would invite further criticism and place Amorim's position under scrutiny once again. Regardless, any claims that United have hit "rock bottom" should be approached with caution, as recent years have demonstrated that the true depths remain uncertain.