Man United suffered a 3-1 loss to Brentford in their recent Premier League outing. The defeat conjures up yet another abysmal performance by Ruben Amorim‘s team. After a win against Chelsea at Old Trafford in their prior league outing, a trip to Brentford presented an opportunity for the Red Devils to register their first back-to-back wins in the 2025-26 EPL campaign.
United not only looked clueless in defense, but attacking patterns also lacked a cutting edge. There lies a huge shortage of consistency in the way Ruben Amorim’s players keep performing on the pitch. Against Chelsea, it looked like players had started to adapt to the manager’s system and possibly understand their roles on the pitch.
However, Brentford continued to prove a tough side for Man United to deal with in the Premier League. In their visit to the Gtech Community Stadium, the Red Devils’ defense, with their so-called back three system, struggled to adapt to the Bees playing high balls over the top and getting into United’s territory.
Does playing a back three not helping Amorim at Man United?
Ruben Amorim’s system of 3-4-2-1 at Man United has come under serious scrutiny in recent times. The formation promises to offer defensive solidity and boost attacking threat with the potential to get wingbacks higher up the pitch and link up with forward players. However, neither the defensive assurance nor the attacking guile seems to be visible when United play these days.
Defenders like Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, and Luke Shaw seem to be comfortable doing their defensive duties as long as it comes to defending inside the final third or clearing their lines. But, as soon as the opposition decides to play balls over the top, and they find themselves in a one-on-one situation, the defensive abilities come crashing down.
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Attacking players are not being involved much in the game
Man United brought players like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko in the summer transfer window. There is an expectation from these three frontline players to make the Red Devils a difficult opposition to come up against.
However, so far in the 2025-26 season, apart from a few decent performances here and there, nothing substantial has materialized in front of the goal for United as well. The lack of bluntness in the frontline can also be blamed on a pretty hot and cold midfield.
It seems like, as good as Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Bruno Fernandes could be on occasions, Man United’s midfield cries out for a player like Joao Palhinha, Jordan Henderson, or Granit Xhaka. One who could solidify that midfield and win the ball back. A leader in that area is the need of the hour.
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