Brentford 4-0 Man Utd LIVE REACTION: Cristiano Ronaldo contract ‘could be TERMINATED’ as Ten Hag cancels flops’ day off
MANCHESTER UNITED were obliterated 4-0 by Brentford yesterday as the post-Alex Ferguson era reached a new low.
David de Gea let Josh Dasilva's shot slip straight through his hands to get the Bees off the mark early on as Ronaldo appealed in vain for a foul after losing possession.
Christian Eriksen then lost the ball against his former club to give Mathias Jensen a simple tap in.
And Brentford would go on to net a third as Ben Mee outjumped Lisandro Martinez to head in from close range and a fourth as Bryan Mbeumo slid the ball past De Gea to finish off a brilliant counter-attack.
In the aftermath of the match, Steve McClaren was seen asking Ronaldo to applaud the Man Utd fans but the Portugal captain instead shrugged him off and angrily stormed down the tunnel.
Following the match, it has been revealed that a fuming Erik ten Hag has decided to cancel the United players' day off.
And there are even rumours that the club could TERMINATE Cristiano Ronaldo's contract if he doesn't improve his attitude.
Get all the latest reaction in our live blog...
That's all for today
An incredibly tough start to life at Manchester United gets even worse for Ten Hag after conceding four goals in 35 minutes to Brentford.
David De Gea had a stinker between the sticks as the goals just kept coming from the Bees
The result leaves the Red Devils at the bottom of the table for the first time since 1992.
Thank you for reading this match blog and have a good evening.
Thomas Frank shows support for Ten Hag
Brentford boss Thomas Frank spoke highly of Manchester United after the game yesterday, saying that a win against them 'should never be routine'.
Brentford forward Ivan Toney went on to say that United 'have got great talent, but when you work hard and run all over them, then the result shows what we are capable of.'
A day of apologies
David De Gea asked Sky for an interview after a horror show performance saw the Spaniard gift Brentford their opening goal.
However, he wasn't the only one.
McTominay, Elanga, Rashford, Fernandes, Van de Beek and Dalot were all seen applauding and raising their hands to the travelling fans.
.Credit: Getty
Red Devils next five fixtures
After a tumulus start Manchester United's season, they host Liverpool next week.
Last season they conceded a grand total of nine goals against Klopp's side.
They also face Arsenal next month:
- Liverpool (H)
- Southampton (A)
- Leicester (A)
- Arsenal (H)
- Crystal Palace (A)
United hauled in by Ten Hag
Manchester United's players have been summoned into Carrington by boss Erik ten Hag, after their 4-0 humiliation to Brentford.
United's players were due to have the day off, but with eight days to prepare for their Premier League clash against Liverpool, the new manager is getting desperate to turn things around.
Damning stats showed United were behind the pace in West London yesterday, with the Bees running over 14km MORE than the men in green.
Ten Hag was lost for words when attempting to explain that staggering stat.
With the UK in the midst of a 30C+ heat wave, it is going to be a sweaty afternoon for the underperforming flops.
Credit: Alamy We're whoring ourselves out for De Jong
Rio Ferdinand can't believe that Manchester United are still pursuing Frenkie de Jong, after the player snubbed the club for the last three months.
The Old Trafford legend said: “With all due respect, he’s a great player.
"But we’re almost whoring ourselves out for this player for three months of the transfer window with our cap in hand begging, 'Please come to us’
"They’ve walked around behind [De Jong] begging him, 'Please turn round and notice us,' and he’s looking around and saying, 'Not for me.'
"And we’re still there, 'Please give us one chance.' How are we putting ourselves in that position? How are we allowing ourselves to be put in a position like that?
"Do you think Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola or Six Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho would be following around a player like this? They wouldn’t be doing that."
United's nightmare numbers
Erik ten Hag is the first manager to lose his first two games in charge of Man Utd in 101 years since John Chapman in Nov 1921. 101
United ended a day at the bottom of the Prem table for the first time in 30 years (since Aug 21, 1992). 30
Brentford are only the third side to score four goals v Man Utd in the first half of a Prem game after Spurs in Oct 2020 and Liverpool in Oct 2021. 3
Brentford secured their biggest top-flight victory since beating Grimsby 6-1 in April 1938. 6-1
United have lost four consecutive league matches for the first time since Feb 1979. 4
United had £350m in cash... now it's £40m
Gary Neville has raged at how Manchester United's cash pile has dwindled, with the Glazer family taking millions out of the club.
He said on Sky Sports after the game: "They've still not dealt with the football operation, they've still not dealt with the recruitment department, they've still not dealt with the stadium which is rusting.
"Manchester United needs a billion pounds in this next two or three years to either re-build or renovate that stadium.
"They probably need another £500m to £600m spending on the training ground, another infrastructure project and football investment.
"They've only got £40m-£50m in the bank.
"They were cash rich three years ago, they had £350m in the bank. They've no longer got that money in the bank.
"Something is going to have to give soon. Very soon."
United are green bottle jobs
Erik ten Hag blasted his "rubbish" players for throwing his plan "in the bin" as they were humiliated by Brentford, writes DAN KING.
David de Gea served up two howlers in a four-goal first-half demolition that sent Manchester United bottom of the Prem for the first time in 30 YEARS.
Harry Maguire and Co looked stunned as they debuted the club's new garish green away kit.
And Spanish keeper De Gea held his hands up over a "horrible day" as club legend Gary Neville hammered Ten Hag's flops for wobbling "like jelly".
Dutchman Ten Hag, the first United boss to lose his first two games for 101 years, made a triple substitution at the break.
And he fumed: "I changed three but I could have changed them all.
"It's rubbish. One mistake can happen but the second and third is not acceptable.
"You have a good plan but then have to put it in the bin.
"It's not possible that the opponent is more hungry than you are. The team has to take responsibility. I feel really sorry for the fans. We let them down."
Back page splash
There is only one item on the back page of SunSport today.
Good morning
In case you missed it, Manchester United were battered by 4-0 by Brentford on Saturday to suffer their second defeat in their opening two Premier League matches .
United boss Erik ten Hag was furious with his team's display, saying: “It was a really poor performance.
"You start the game and you have to be ready, and we weren’t, and that’s disappointing. It’s difficult for me."
He added: "“It's a surprise when you start the game like this; in 35 minutes conceding four goals. It’s not possible.
"So, the team has to take responsibility. I feel really sorry for the fans. They give everything to support us and we let them down.”
Mee happy, Mee very happy.
New Brentford signing Ben Mee took to Twitter to share his joy with the result and his performance which included a goal at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Brentford's two new boys in defence today, Ben Mee and Hickey, were both fantastic defensively, and earned a clean sheet for their efforts.
The former beat Lisandro Martinez to a header at the front post, after Ivan Toney won it at the back post, to get his first PL goal of the campaign.
Brentford new signing Ben Mee took to social media to share his joy. Hard work the difference?
Brentford's Ivan Toney and Jensen gave a very charismatic interview to the Sky Sports cameras after the game today.
The Brentford forward, a Manchester United transfer target, pointed out the importance of hard work in the Brentford side, and noted that "When you work hard, you get the results, like today."
Toney was excellent today, despite not getting on the scoresheet, and showed that he is really developing into a well rounded starlet in this exhilarating Brentford side.
'Nice kick about with the boys'
Brentford fans were eagerly refreshing Ivan Toney's Twitter account after the game today, hoping for some of the witty banter they have become accustomed to from their biggest goal threat.
Last season after beating Arsenal 3-0, Ivan Toney sent football Twitter into raptures by tweeting 'Nice kick about with the boys @BrentfordFC' after the game.
Many fans were expecting the same today, as Toney notched up two assists on his Premier League record, but it didn't arrive.
Instead he tweeted the following:
Ivan Toney took to Twitter to congratulate his team on 3 points... Neville picks out Lisandro Martinez
Lisandro Martinez is a man of modest stature when it comes to Premier League centre backs, and Gary Neville picked him out as being the wrong choice to play against Brentford today.
In his post match commentary for Sky Sports, he stated: “You have to deal with the physical aspect of the Premier League and Manchester United are not doing that.” He then unapologetically added: “Ben Mee… it’s like a men’s team against under-nines.
Ben Mee… it’s like a men’s team against under-nines.
Gary Neville
Polar opposites...
Manchester United are 20th in the league table, and Manchester City are 1st...
If you told a Manchester City fan this 20 years ago, we wonder if they would have believed you?
Dean Henderson was right?
Dean Henderson came under a lot of criticism from people associated with Manchester United for an interview last week in which he claimed the club's treatment of him was 'criminal'.
But they seemed to prove him right today, as David De Gea had a nightmare performance in between the sticks, and he no longer has any competition for the number one shirt at the club.
It is just inevitable that the on-loan Forest stopper is going to produce a masterclass tomorrow to make United fans feel even worse, isn't it?
The Bees knees.
While much is being made of how shocking Manchester United were today, and rightly so, no one seems to be talking about just how exceptional Brentford were.
After a great comeback last week against Leicester, where they found themselves 2-0 down at half-time and pulled it back to 2-2, they looked like a side that were ruthless in attack and solid in defence today.
Brentford set pieces really caused trouble for United, especially for the third goal as 5'9 Lisandro Martinez was up against Ben Mee in a duel where there was only going to be one winner.
Brentford were on top form today, and could even find themselves atop the table next week, if they can beat London rivals Fulham away from home...
Brentford dominated Lisandro Martinez physically today.Credit: Getty Erik Ten Nil?
Fans have flooded to social media to mock Manchester United’s performance against Brentford, as they were battered by the Bees four goals to nil.
It has not been an easy start to life for the Dutch boss, who has not been backed fully in the transfer window this summer, as United seem to be struggling to reel in the big names these days.
Gary Neville fumes post-match.
Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp were embroiled in a heated debate at full time, as Neville fumed at the Glazer family and Redknapp tried to divert some blame away from the owners of Manchester United.
It's a real achievement to spend £1 billion and be this bad
Gary Neville"Open heart surgery"
Before he left Manchester United, previous interim manager Ralf Rangnick had something to say about the club.
The German spoke on the changes needed at the club, and claimed that "It's not cosmetic, it's open heart surgery."
If that doesn't sum up the state of Manchester United right now, then I'm not sure what does...
It's not cosmetic, it's open heart surgery.
Ralf Rangnick
Pointing the finger...
Many Manchester United fans are pointing the finger at the Glazer family tonight, or at Erik Ten Hag, or at the players.
The Glazers obviously own the club, and it is their responsibility to invest money, but many fans claim they are taking money out of the club for their own good, despite spending money on players.
The players do not look like they are bothered or good enough to be at the club, and the manager is not having the desired effect so far.
But who's fault actually is the mess that is Manchester United?
Not a 4-0 game?
Brentford manager Thomas Frank spoke to the media after the game and claimed it was "not a 4-0 game" despite the scoreline.
Fans will argue it was actually more than a 4-0 game, as despite his mistake, De Gea actually denied a few good chances from the Brentford attackers, Ivan Toney in particular.
I don't think it was a 4-0 win, but it was clearly deserved.
Thomas FrankRabiot to solve the problem?
According to Belgian journalist , Manchester United have reached a total agreement with Adrien Rabiot’s agent and mother, Veronique, on personal terms.
Rabiot is a decent signing for United, but really, they wanted Frenkie De Jong, so is he the answer for Man United?
Probably not...
Redknapp doesn't blame the Glazers...
Jamie Redknapp has said on Sky Sports his opinion on the Glazers: “They’ve spend a billion pounds on the team. They keep spending money on the players, you can’t keep blaming [them].”
Whilst Jamie's point is valid, United have spent enormous amounts of money of players such as Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba and others, the fans take issue with the fact it is not their money they are spending, but money generated by the club.