Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim admits he has 'responsibility' to focus on UEFA Europa League after Brentford defeat in Premier League clash
Published 04/05/2025 at 17:23 GMT+1
Manchester United suffered their 16th defeat of a miserable Premier League season when they lost 4-3 at Brentford on Sunday. United manager Ruben Amorim made a host of changes for the game and indicated afterwards that his focus was very much on Thursday's UEFA Europa League meeting with Athletic Bilbao, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Ruben Amorim defended his decision to make so many changes for Manchester United's Premier League game at Brentford, which they lost 4-3, as he made it a clear priority to focus on Thursday's UEFA Europa League meeting with Athletic Club.
United will be protecting a 3-0 lead against Athletic at Old Trafford on Thursday - in a game that will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - as they aim to reach the Europa League final in Bilbao.
Amorim made a host of changes for Sunday's league match in south London, with just three of the players who started in Bilbao named in the team.
Defender Tyler Fredricson, 20, was in the United side, as was 18-year-old Harry Amass, while 17-year-old striker Chido Obi made his first start in place of Rasmus Hojlund. Obi became the youngest player to start a Premier League game for United.
"We as a club, we need to understand in this moment we have a big responsibility. We have to prepare a squad for different competitions," Amorim said.
"I liked [the performance of] the young kids. I liked how we controlled the game without many occasions to score. In the first 30 minutes we struggled with set-pieces, but we already knew we didn't have the height to fight that.
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"In the second half we were near the draw and we suffered two goals like we did in the beginning when we suffered one and let it go. We fight, but in the end we lose, but good things for the future."
United went ahead early on through Mason Mount, but a Luke Shaw own goal levelled the match and Kevin Schade then headed the hosts in the front.
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Schade scored his second of the game and Yoane Wissa put the Bees 4-1 up, before late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo made the hosts sweat a little.
United defender Matthijs de Ligt was forced off in the first half, after a collision with Bryan Mbeumo.
Asked about the injury after the game, Amorim said: "I don't know. We will see. I hope it's nothing serious.
"We took a risk with [Harry] Maguire. Shaw had to go out because we need players for Thursday."
United are in 15th place after suffering their 16th league defeat of the season, in what is set to go down as one of their worst league seasons for decades.
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