Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. PA Images/Alamy Images

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim rolling with younger squad fails vs. Brentford

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 4, 2025 1:34 PM ET

Manchester United Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim treated Sunday's road game against the Brentford Bees as a test run for younger players. The move didn't pay off.

On Thursday, Manchester United faces the Athletic Club in the second leg of the Europa League semifinal. United already holds a 3-0 lead from a victory in the first leg on May 1 and if it wins the Europa League, it will qualify for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

Thus, Amorim rested most of his starters, including defender Harry Maguire and midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. Manchester United forward Chido Obi became the youngest starter in Premier League history at 17 years and 156 days old.

With Obi in the lineup, the starting XI was the youngest in Manchester United history in the Premier League era, via Thom Gibbs of The Telegraph in London. However, the inexperienced squad proved it's not ready to compete at an elite level.

After Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount gave the Red Devils a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute of the match, the Bees responded. Brentford midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard's shot bounced off United defender Luke Shaw into the net in the 27th minute. Six minutes later, Bees midfielder Kevin Schade gave them a 2-1 lead.

Watch EVERY GOAL from a thriller at the Gtech as Brentford toppled Manchester United 4-3. pic.twitter.com/S3sH8Uvxm2
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 4, 2025

Schade netted his second goal in the 70th minute. Less than four minutes later, Brentford midfielder Yoane Wissa drilled a right-footed shot, giving the Bees a 4-1 lead.

To the young squad's credit, it showed resilience. Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho, 20, cut the deficit to 4-2 in the 82nd minute with a right-footed shot. In extra time, Manchester United forward Amad Diallo, 22, scored a left-footed goal.

Still, the comeback attempt fell short for the Red Devils. With the 4-3 loss, Manchester United is now 10-9-16 (39 points) and 15th in the Premier League.

Amorim wanting to give his best players a break before the Europa League semifinal is understandable. Still, that could be considered a mistake. The Red Devils have seemingly lost some momentum before the pivotal match.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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