Bruno Fernandes' touch map speaks volumes: Man United's three winners and three losers from defeat to Brentford
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(Credit: Imago)
Jack Heath
Sat 27 September 2025 15:04, UK
Man United lost 3-1 to Brentford as their horrendous start to the season under Ruben Amorim worsens.
Sources told Football Insider that Man United have joined Chelsea in the race for Kenan Yildiz from Juventus.
The 20-year-old would have been even more put off from joining the Red Devils after their underwhelming display against the Bees.
Similarly, Carlos Baleba will be more inclined to join Liverpool instead of Man United after he was spotted in attendance at Anfield.
Football Insider reveals the winners and losers from another diabolical showing from Amorim‘s side.
Credit: Imago
The Slovenian finally ended his goal drought by notching a scrappy header in the first half where he had four shots on target.
Benjamin Sesko had to wait six matches for the all important moment which could be a major turning point in his United career.
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Moreover, with no adequate back-up to the striker he will certainly be their number one moving forward for the remainder of the season.
In what was a defensively shambolic performance from the Red Devils, the Dutchman stood out at the back.
Matthijs de Ligt acted as the sweeper for Amorim’s rearguard and won the bulk of his aerial and ground duels to keep his side in the game.
Credit: Imago
Whilst Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw looked hugely off the pace, the former Ajax centre-back stepped up to at least try and protect Altay Bayindir.
The Uruguayan was the prime beneficiary of Casemiro’s suspension as he came in to the United team to face the Bees.
Manuel Ugarte didn’t set the world alight with his performance but quietly mopped up loose balls and won crucial tackles in the middle of the park.
Credit: Imago
His display should be enough to retain his starting spot in the next match against Sunderland given the rashness of his South American counterpart in recent games.
Moreover, Kobbie Mainoo did little to impress Amorim when he came on for Ugarte later in the second half.
Senne Lammens must be seething on the sidelines begging the question of how he hasn’t started yet for the Red Devils.
Credit: Imago
The Turkey international made a couple of good saves but his confidence is practically non-existent with a lack of presence in the box.
Igor Thiago’s second goal was put on a plate as Bayindir parried the ball into his path and it is remarkable he remains Amorim’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Keeping his place in the United side after his solid performance against Chelsea, Maguire was awful at the back against the Bees.
Thiago breezed past the England international on the halfway line for Brentford’s opener as he beat the offside trap.
The centre-back was miles off the pace for the Red Devils and did little to show his manager why he should keep his starting berth.
The Portuguese was awful in the middle of the park as he picked up a yellow card and missed a penalty to level the match.
Bruno Fernandes has been vastly inconsistent in the centre-midfield role and the failed conversion from the spot sums up what has been an odd start to the season for him.
The 31-year-old had 81 touches during the clash at the Gtech Stadium but his touch map, as demonstrated here by Football Insider’s new statistics partner Opta, highlighted his lack of positional sense.
Fernandes is a player who must be left off the leash, not caged in a role where his impact on the attacking play is reined in.