MU lost again: System failure, poor coach, weak captain, and inferior players

29/09/2025 20:02:00 PlaymakerHub

Three years ago, coach Erik ten Hag made the players of MU run 13.8 km in training following the Red Devils' 0-4 loss to Brentford. That was the distance their opponents ran more than them in that match.

Coach Ruben Amorim will not ask his players to do something similar to his counterpart after last weekend's 1-3 defeat. In reality, the Portuguese strategist did not know what kind of punishment to impose, because, as he admitted, MU had trained all week to counter Brentford’s playing style but still suffered defeat.

Failure due to details

"When we win, it’s not the system; when we lose, it definitely is the system," Amorim said. Yet with this same system, a week earlier, MU had convincingly beaten Chelsea.

As usual, the Red Devils took one step forward and two steps back. Before the match, the Portuguese coach was uncertain which MU would show up, and this was confirmed at Gtech Community: the Red Devils did not play their own way and overthought their opponent.

There was very little football and intelligence in the play, but too many problems in MU. Lack of conviction in defense. Lack of breakthroughs in the final third and errors appeared all over the pitch. These details have decided most of their defeats over the years.

Firstly, their defense appeared disorganized, especially in counterattack situations, something Brentford is very good at. The Bees took advantage of quick transition phases to score important goals that shaped the match.

The midfield failed to control the central area. They could not stabilize the game, control the pace, or suppress the opposition. The home side’s midfielders were allowed to operate freely, leading to quick transitions and counterattacks, causing a rapid collapse.

MU did not apply enough pressure on Brentford’s defense. Because the lines played too loosely without a clear approach, this lack of determination allowed the Gtech Community team to build momentum and create relatively easy scoring chances.

MU suffered another weak defeat under Amorim

And here is another inherent weakness: Throughout the match, MU players showed a worrying pattern of poor decision-making at critical moments. This was evident in misplaced passes and missed chances, making the situation even more difficult.

Failure due to the whole picture

Disregarding the responsibility of individuals like Bruno Fernandes, Mbeumo, De Ligt, Maguire, and even Ruben Amorim, this defeat reflects a chronic collective problem and is consistent throughout.

Amorim’s MU can compete as the weaker team against the strongest sides. They can beat the weakest teams, although sometimes showing some flaws. However, in matches where resources should make them the favorites, they often appear weaker.

In 31 Premier League matches, MU earned 12 points against big clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea. Less than expected but with highlights such as beating Man City or Chelsea and drawing with Liverpool.

Against weaker teams, including newly promoted clubs, the Red Devils performed well with 13 points and wins over Southampton, Ipswich, Leicester, and Burnley. Despite being behind in two of those matches and needing a 97th-minute winner in the third against Burnley.

But the main problem lies with the other 12 clubs. These teams, along with them, finished last season ranked from 5th to 17th. Brentford, in this group, initiated a series of poor performances. Amorim’s MU played 19 games and earned only 15 points. They secured just 4 wins, including victories over Everton, Fulham, Aston Villa in the last round of the previous season, and Burnley early this season.

Overall, MU cannot handle or overcome the pressure of defeat. Psychological breakdown and low fighting spirit. By all measures, MU is the worst team in the league. Although it may be too soon to assess Amorim’s £230 million summer spending, the Red Devils have paid more and received less.

While MU believes they have one of the best young coaches in Europe, in reality, they have become one of the worst teams in the Premier League.

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