Two Thomas Frank quotes on Manchester United should give Sir Jim Ratcliffe a decision to make

Thomas Frank sounded more pleased with Brentford when they lost and nearly lost to Manchester United than when they won.

After United's 3-1 win at the Community Stadium in January 2022, Frank opined, "We destroyed them in the first half, they didn't have a sniff.

"The way we smashed them in the first half was fantastic, so proud of my team. They (United) are unbelievably lucky. I know all the crap about taking chances. They changed the system against little Brentford."

United at least recovered under Ralf Rangnick that night and clinically defeated Brentford with three goals in 22 second-half minutes. At the same ground last season, Erik ten Hag's team got worse.

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United almost committed floodlit robbery on Easter Saturday before Brentford's 99th-minute equaliser. Frank said afterwards: "I think this performance was one or two levels higher than the 4-0 win against them."

There was key context, too. Brentford had won seven of their 29 Premier League games and lost seven of their past ten. They were devoid of their entire back four and had to field their third-choice left back as loanee Sergio Reguilon was ineligible through his forgettable loan with United. United were only missing the seldom-missed Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

"But we destroyed Man United in many ways, 31 shots," Frank said. “I’m so, so, so happy that we got at least a point; if not, I probably would have lost faith in the football Gods!"

Two results against Brentford mark the nadirs of Ten Hag's tenure. In the 11 years attending United matches in press, their 4-0 hammering by Brentford in August 2022 is the