Angry Manchester United fans pointed fingers at two players who must be removed immediately after the Brentford match.

Manchester United fell behind Brentford 2-1 during the first half, and the displays by Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw sparked outrage among supporters, who continuously expressed their dissatisfaction online.

The match between Manchester United and Brentford at the Gtech Stadium saw a disappointing opening 45 minutes from the Red Devils, as they allowed the home side to take a 2-1 lead. Although Benjamin Sesko managed to reduce the deficit, defensive errors, especially from Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, became the main focus of harsh fan criticism.

In the 8th minute, Igor Thiago scored after escaping the offside trap set by Maguire. Just 12 minutes later, the Brazilian forward punished United’s sloppy defense again by doubling the lead, this time Luke Shaw was beaten during the chase. Sesko’s goal rekindled hope, but defensive insecurity still loomed over the visitors.

On social media, many fans could not hide their disappointment. One wrote that "playing Maguire and Shaw in 2025 is a terrible decision", while another sarcastically called Maguire "a joke" and Shaw "performs poorly every week".

Some fans even expressed frustration at coach Ruben Amorim for continually trusting Shaw, saying "this is hard to understand". Commentator Mark Goldbridge also took the opportunity to mock, stating that having Maguire as the last defensive line "can only be described as a disaster".

In fact, Luke Shaw has faced criticism many times before. Legend Roy Keane once bluntly said the English defender "is inconsistent, injury-prone, and struggles to maintain good fitness". Shaw himself admitted that this comment hurt but could not be denied. Before the Brentford game, he said "sometimes you have to learn to accept it, of course it hurts, but I think he’s right. Last week I wasn’t performing well, I don’t need Roy Keane to remind me".

As for Maguire, fans’ patience seems to have run out. Although there was a period when he regained trust in the United shirt, the 32-year-old defender frequently makes mistakes in big games. This time, allowing Thiago to easily break through and score only deepened the perception that he no longer has the speed or alertness to be a defensive pillar.

The second half was expected to be a chance for Man United to turn things around, but the first 45 minutes left a heavy impression. With mounting pressure from fans, coach Amorim will have to find a quick solution if he wants to prevent faith in his project from collapsing.

Meanwhile, the future of Maguire and Shaw in Manchester United’s starting lineup remains a major question, as they continue to lose favor with supporters.

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