Desperate, Manchester United travel to the Community Stadium in Brentford on the back of a humiliating defeat in the opening weekend at home to Brighton, extending their number of consecutive losses in the league to three.
The atmosphere around the Theater of dreams is not encouraging as the fans have also started a movement to boycott their next home game against Liverpool later in the month.
Despite their poor end to last season, fans have become optimistic following the arrival of Dutch manager, Erik Ten Hag but so far, the former Ajax man has not done much to impress the fans safe the preseason win over Liverpool.
United’s last competitive win came at the start of May against Brentford, the same opponent that awaits them in the final Premier League kickoff of Saturday.
In response to the reaction of fans following the defeat to Brighton, United tried to make desperate moves in the market and were heavily linked with Seria A duo of Marko Arnautovic and Adrien Rabiot.
However, fans reaction has also likely made them withdrawn in their pursuit of the former while they continue talks to reach agreement on personal terms with the later.
Manager, Erik Ten Hag has said before their first game of the season against Brighton that ‘it wasn’t about signing any old player but right players,’ a comment which make the move for Rabiot and Arnautovic unplanned and shows the kind of mess the club is in.
At this time, it is safe to say they have run out of ideas at Old Trafford and the trip to Brentford could be about to worsen the situation as the duo of Scott Mctominay and Fred might be set to continue in midfield.
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It is really a sorry moment for the club after their start to preseason, which soon faded away the more games they played towards the end and to start the season with a defeat against a side who had never beaten them at home is really a painful one.
United are unbeaten in each of their last seven meetings with Brentford, winning six. A run which started over 80 years ago until the later stages of last season.
Brentford, who came from two goals down to earn a point away to Leicester City in the opening weekend will be high in confidence and when they play host to a United side lacking initiatives, they will be ready to sting.
Thomas Frank’s side will continue to be without the trio of Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer and Sergi Canos while new signing, Mikkel Damsgaard has resumed training and could make his debut for The Bees.
Anthony Martial is yet to resume training due to a hamstring injury sustained before the opening weekend’s defeat to Brighton, which means Cristiano Ronaldo might get the nod to start on Saturday.
Predicted Lineups — Brentford : David Raya, Rico Henry, Ben Mee, Pontus Jansson, Aaron Hickey, Vitaly Janelt, Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen, Keane Lewis-Potter, Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo.
Manchester United : David de Gea, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Diogo Dalot, Scott Mctominay, Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
