Man Utd have been ruined by the Glazers and four other lessons from Brentford defeat

Manchester United fell to a second Premier League defeat from as many games as Brentford ran riot on Saturday afternoon. Goals from Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo gave the home side all three points. Express Sport will now take a look at five things we learned from the contest.

The Glazers have ruined Man Utd

Manchester United were once the biggest football club in the country. Now, after a second successive defeat, it’s clear that’s no longer the case.

And it’s clear the Glazers’ years of neglect are now hurting the club, both on and off the field.

United don’t appear to have any confidence. Players mope around and look devoid of inspiration, despite their big price tags and huge wages.

The Glazers have to take responsibility for that. The tone they set from the top filters down and it’s clear the Red Devils require new owners, after 17 turbulent years. Whether anybody is able to oust them, though, is a different matter altogether.

United are no longer the superpower they were and there’s a sense that, while Joel and Avram Glazer control the club, they won’t ever get back to where they used to be.

Maguire and Martinez poor

Neither Harry Maguire nor Lisandro Martinez should be starting matches for Manchester United at present.

Martinez has been thrown in at the deep end when he should have been eased in. He was shambolic against Brentford and arguably the worst player on the pitch.

And though Maguire is still United captain, his alarming dip in form is threatening to become permanent.

The former Leicester star just looks a shadow of the £80million defender he was just three years ago. With Martinez alongside him, this little and large partnership doesn’t look like it will work out.

Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and even Eric Bailly all deserve a chance to shine.

Ronaldo starting to look his age

While Cristiano Ronaldo did well for United last season, scoring 24 goals across all competitions amid a turbulent campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, he’s now starting to look his age.

Erik ten Hag decided to deploy the Portugal international right from the very start against Brentford, having left him on the bench for the clash with Brighton last week.

But that decision backfired.

Ronaldo has lost his pace and spent most of the first half whining and looking to the heavens as they succumbed to yet another chastening defeat.

While he still has his uses, even the veteran ages like any other mortal.

Rashford would benefit from leaving

Marcus Rashford has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in recent days.

But the England international would benefit from leaving United behind. Certainly, it would do his career more good than bad.

What’s the point in staying? The Red Devils aren’t ambitious enough and not good enough to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for the game’s biggest titles.

Rashford’s form has nosedived at the same time where the club have nosedived as a whole.

PSG, where he’d play alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, are currently a better place to be.

Brentford can sting again

Brentford did well in the Premier League last term after securing promotion from the Championship.

And it’s clear the Bees can sting again as they claimed all three points and left the Red Devils reeling.

Many expected Brentford to be relegated this season, especially after being unable to keep hold of Christian Eriksen.

Yet they’ve shown during their opening two matches they’ve got enough to beat the big boys and stay in the top flight.

Certainly, their energetic and enterprising performance is a sign they’re in the right hands and heading in the right direction.