Manchester United continues to find itself at the center of controversy as the team suffered a hard-hitting defeat at the hands of Brentford, amidst complaints over Matthijs de Ligt's forced exit from the game.
The 24-year-old defender, who moved to Manchester United in the summer from Italian side Juventus, had to be taken off the pitch due to a brutal challenge. The injury, however, merely emphasized the severity of the referee's decisions during the match.
De Ligt's exit inadvertently paved the way for Brentford to secure a vital 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Brentford's Ethan Pinnock, who scored the winning goal, breathed new life into the home team's chances, much to the dismay of Manchester United fans.
De Ligt, valued at over 80 million euros, is no stranger to high-pressure matches. He started his professional career at the revered Ajax youth academy, where he quickly rose to prominence. Being part of the Ajax team that came so close to a Champions League final, de Ligt has a wealth of experience that has not yet translated into results at Manchester United.
This most recent stretch of miserable results raises more questions about the team's morale, tactics, and the players' ability to execute. Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag will, once again, find himself on the defensive as another disappointing performance adds to the growing pressure to obtain successful results. With mounting injuries and losses, one wonders what has to change for Manchester United to bounce back.