Ruben Amorim rang the changes as Manchester United prepared for their crucial Europa League semi-final second leg against Atletico Bilbao with defeat away to Brentford.
With a 3-0 lead to protect on Thursday, and little to play for in the Premier League, the starting XI had an average age of 22 years and 270 days — the third-youngest side named for a Premier League match. Only Middlesbrough’s team against Fulham in May 2006 at 20 years and 181 days and Arsenal’s versus Portsmouth in May 2009, 22 years and 237 days, were younger.
Among them was Chido Obi, becoming United’s youngest Premier League starter at 17 years and 155 days.
Despite all of the changes, United began brightly and took a 14th-minute lead when Mason Mount finished off a flowing move. It did not last long as Luke Shaw’s own goal and Kevin Schade’s header, after Matthijs de Ligt went down injured and was then replaced by Harry Maguire, turned the game.
Leny Yoro and Amad came off the bench at half-time for captain Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu, Mount also exiting soon after for Christian Eriksen, but it was Brentford who secured all the points when Schade headed in his second with 20 minutes remaining and Yoane Wissa added a fourth on 74.
Alejandro Garnacho reduced the arrears with a fine finish in the 82nd minute before Amad added a third when he cut and beat Mark Flekken in the fifth minute of added time.
Laurie Whitwell analyses the action of a match that was United’s sixth in the league without a win.
How did the youngsters get on?
United’s youngsters showed glimpses of why Amorim gave them the chance in this rotated line-up, while demonstrating the jump to the first team is big.
Obi was the key selection, starting his first United game in place of Rasmus Hojlund, Amorim’s only fit senior striker. His only chance came in the second half when found by Garnacho, but his shot was blocked. Obi wanted a penalty when felled as he ran clear, but referee Anthony Taylor blew for a foul by the Dane in the build-up.
Obi took a sharp shot in injury time, but his left-foot strike was blocked by Sepp van den Berg. Obi found it hard getting hold of the ball generally. Tyler Fredricson, 20, won chants from United fans when he won a tackle by the away fans, but at another moment was beaten by Schade, who cut inside and tested Bayindir with a firm shot.
Later, Fredricson played an excellent pass down the line to Mount, whose cut-back found Garnacho — only for an air-shot to let the chance slip by.
Amass, 18, was beaten by Christian Norgaard in the air at a Damsgaard free kick, but also got forward regularly. His best movement coming to meet Eriksen’s chipped pass into the box. Amass took the ball nicely but blasted his shot high and wide rather than pick out a team-mate.
Garnacho, 20, and Amad, 22, might be considered youngsters themselves, despite their experience. Both scored very good goals cutting in off either flank to reduce the margin of defeat. Amorim will be thankful they have at least found their shooting boots ahead of the Europa League.
How will goal boost Mount?
Mount has been threatening a goal in his sequence of cameos since returning from a hamstring injury. He was a whisker away from scoring with his first touch back as a substitute away to Nottingham Forest on April 1, and he should have at least got his finish on target when set up by Garnacho against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He also had decent efforts against Newcastle United and Bournemouth.
Finally, on his first start for United since he suffered that muscle tear at Manchester City on December 15, Mount found the net. It was a lovely goal too, the move started when Kobbie Mainoo found Garnacho in space down the left with a delicate chip.
Garnacho was able to run onto the ball and cross first time with his left foot, meeting Mount’s run perfectly. Mount let the ball roll across his body to slot in with his right.
Mount has very good anticipation and sense of where to find space, which is why he has been getting chances. But he needs to make the most of them. This was only his second goal for United, his first coming on March 30, 2024 — also away to Brentford.
He had two more shots just after the break, from the same route when Garnacho cut the ball back to Mount on the edge of the area. His first attempt with his left was blocked, his second with his right rolled tamely into Mark Flekken’s hands.
But the goal will encourage Amorim, who has been guarded on starting Mount until now, after eight substitute appearances. Mount was brought off on 57 minutes for Christian Eriksen, with Amorim managing his minutes, and perhaps he will have a role to play against Bilbao.
Shaw back and handed the armband
Shaw was a notable choice as captain by Amorim, and the 29-year-old had an eventful game despite only featuring for 45 minutes.
Inside three minutes, he watched a high pass from Keane Lewis-Potter that was aimed at Schade but floated a little too high. Shaw looked to nod it back to Altay Bayindir, but United’s deputy goalkeeper suddenly made a dart to collect the ball himself. Fortunately for United, the ball rolled past the post rather than into the net.
It was only a stay of execution for Shaw, who did score an own goal in the 27th minute. Michael Kayode’s long throw was only half-cleared by Kobbie Mainoo, and Kayode then beat Harry Amass on the rebound. One of Brentford’s major strengths is keeping the ball alive at set pieces.
Mikkel Damsgaard hooked a cross that glanced off Shaw’s shoulder past Bayindir. De Ligt had also tried to run to block but that only caused confusion.
De Ligt was a contender to wear the armband, having captained Ajax aged 18, but he was forced off early in any case, injuring his knee when stretching to tackle Yoane Wissa.
He was down as Brentford scored their second through Schade’s header. Losing De Ligt, potentially for the rest of the season, is a major blow for Amorim. Maguire, his replacement, took the captaincy when Shaw went off at half-time, with Amorim looking to avoid any more injuries.
What next for Manchester United?
Thursday, May 8: Athletic Club (Home), Europa League semi-final second leg, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
(Top photo: Obi on his full Premier League debut. Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
