CNN
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Manager Erik ten Hag said Manchester United’s game plan was “thrown in the trash” during a disastrous 4-0 defeat by Brentford.
The result sees United lose to Brighton last weekend as four goals in the first 35 minutes helped Brentford to an emphatic win – the club’s first against United since 1938.
Josh Dasilva opened the first when his long-range shot was spilled by David de Gea and minutes later another error from United – this time by former Brentford player Christian Eriksen, who lost the ball just short of his goal – allowed Mathias Jensen, a second to score a goal.
Ben Mee’s concentrated header from a corner added to United’s troubles before Bryan Mbeumo ended a skillful counter-attack as he received Ivan Toney’s pass and passed De Gea.
United had chances in the second half through Eriksen and a Cristiano Ronaldo header, but any hopes of a comeback remained far out of reach.
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This is the first time United have lost their opening two games of a Premier League season since 1992 and the challenges keep coming with Liverpool next on August 22.
“Brentford were hungrier, one and two, we conceded goals (from) individual errors,” ten Hag told reporters after the game. “You can have a good plan, but then throw the plan in the trash.”
United struggled to deal with Brentford’s pressing in the first half of Saturday’s game, losing possession leading up to the opening two goals.
“They (the players) make a bad decision and that is football. It’s a game of mistakes and we will be punished,” added ten Hag.
“It’s naive how we played today. You have to play more directly. We lured them; Place was high on the pitch… We will learn, we must learn. But it’s not good, it’s clearly at this level.”
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester City and Arsenal continued their unbeaten starts to the season – City in a 4-0 win over Bournemouth and Arsenal in an entertaining 4-2 win over Leicester City.
Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden all scored for City in the first half, while Jefferson Lerma’s own goal completed the defeat.
Signed by City in the summer, Gabriel Jesus scored twice on his home debut for Arsenal, first with a superb lob over Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward and then again with a header from a corner.
William Saliba’s own goal and James Madison’s tight-angle shot saw Leicester hit back – both sides of Granit Xhaka’s easy finish after Ward spilled a cross – but Gabriel Martinelli’s goal with 15 minutes left gave Arsenal victory.