Erik ten Hag blamed “individual mistakes” and admitted Brentford were far hungrier as his Manchester United team crashed to a second consecutive defeat at the start of the Premier League season.
Brentford racked up four first-half goals in a disastrous opening 35 minutes for United, an error from David de Gea for Josh Dasilva’s opener setting the tone and Ten Hag said: “Brentford were more hungry.
We conceded goals from individual mistakes. You can’t have a tactical plan but then put it in the bin.” Two competitive matches into his new job, the Dutchman was forced to apologise to the club’s travelling fans. “It is difficult for me,” he said. “It is always a surprise when you start a game like this.
After 35 minutes we conceded four goals. This is not possible. The team has to take the responsibility, I feel really sorry for the fans who did everything to support us, we let them down.” With Brentford repeatedly catching out United’s tactic of playing the ball out from defence, Dasilva’s and Mattias Jensen’s goals both came following mistakes in possession.