LAST UPDATE | 13 Aug 2022
DAVID DE GEA has accepted responsibility for his role in Manchester United’s shambolic 4-0 drubbing at Brentford that left his side at the foot of the Premier League table.
De Gea gifted the first two goals to Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen before Ben Mee helped himself to a third and Bryan Mbeumo hit a stylish fourth on a chastening afternoon for the visitors, but a magnificent one for the Bees.
Volunteering for a Sky Sports interview afterwards, De Gea said: “I think I cost my team three points today. It was a poor performance from myself.
“After the first mistake and then the second, it was very tough to be playing and it was a horrible day. Of course, we should react better but the moment we are living now is tough, every time we concede a goal. I should’ve saved the first shot and probably the result would be different.”
On the second goal, which arrived after a short kick-out to Christian Eriksen was intercepted, he said: “Maybe I [should] have to read it better and kick it long. But, of course, we always try to play. But today they pressed hard and I should’ve read it better.”
Despite a promising pre-season, United have endured their worst start to the season in 30 years.
“It is too easy to play in pre-season, you play for nothing,” the 31-year-old said. “Then when you have to play games that matters you need bravery, more consistent and be a proper player. It wasn’t the case today.”
Asked how his team can turn things around, he responded: “I’m not sure, to be honest. Everyone is improving a lot and feels like we’re on the same page. We must stick together.”
Erik ten Hag blamed the players and not the plan after the game.
“He didn’t have to release the ball there because we gave options and the players have to choose,” insisted Ten Hag. “We said ‘invite them and play long’.
“I’m confident that he can do it – and on the second goal, OK. He showed already in training and in the first games he can do that.
“I don’t want to play from the back when it’s not possible. It was naive how we played today. You have to play more direct. It’s clear at this level that’s not the standard we want to act.”
Cristiano Ronaldo started and finished the match but Ten Hag still hauled off three players, Luke Shaw, Fred and summer signing Lisandro Martinez, at half-time.
“I subbed three but I could have changed them all,” he said. “We wanted to bring some fresh energy in the game, not specifically the ones who got subbed because I don’t think that’s honest to them.”
“It was a very good performance overall, I don’t think teams often win 4-0 in the Premier League, and definitely not against Manchester United,” said Bees boss Thomas Frank.
“This group of players keep showing me how good they are together. I don’t think it was a ‘4-0 win’, but it was a clear, deserved win.
“We deserve a huge amount of credit. It was definitely one of our top performances here.”
If it wasn’t for DeGea we would have been mid table for the last decade. 4 time player of the year. Can’t forget that. Took balls to do that interview. I’m sure Match of the Day will have Maguires usual post shower apology later tonight
@Ray Taff: bang on…. phenomenal keeper in his prime
@Ray Taff: agreed. But he needs dropping now and whats the keeper options? Tom Heaton, who no disrespect but isnt proper competition for number 1. Club is a mess. Been saying it for years now.
@Ray Taff: “we” in the squad are “we”
@Piggy: yea I’m in the squad
@Ray Taff: you would do better than the majority of em to be fair
@Ray Taff: Correct – I didn’t see the captain stepping up to do an interview.
@Ray Taff: didn’t watch it so can’t really comment on it but I went to a league of Ireland football teams match last week myself and it was brilliant to watch. Lads giving 100% for little money but you have lads on €100 K plus not giving a boll ox
@Ray Taff: That photo of DeGea looking demoralised is the reason every utd supporter should be worried about the future of this club. Can’t understand how he was sent out to explain anything. A great goalkeeper that’s saved utd time and time again. Sure stick him in the interview it was all his fault (ball ox)say a lot about everything man utd these days. This is not a dig at utd supporters by the way, but things surely have to change and soon.
@Ray Taff: you’d have to feel for erik bin baag.
@Brian Dunne: did he need dropping last season when all so called utd fans were calling for his head…or why he been your MVP for the last few seasons..
U clowns don’t even realize he’s one of the best things ur Biggest team in the world has…
@Paul Gorry: they don’t get it Paul… genuinely they don’t… beyond the joke at this stage how far utd have fallen and the fan base turning on one of their true gens…wat a mess of a club!
@Damien Leen: what are you on about you melt? Saying he needs to be dropped isnt “turning” on him. He owes united nothing, zilch, nada. But he’s out of form and needs competition.
@Damien Leen: oh and btw wasn’t it the great liverpool fan base who sent death threats to their goalkeeper after a champions league final? You’ll never walk alone indeed eh?
@Paul Gorry: they didn’t send him out, he requested the interview.
@Brian Dunne: ur such a sap it’s not even worth it man, you Utd supporters are a sad fickle bunch…maybe you should get ur little friend Pauly to screen your comments child cause you’re not up to it .. Enjoy being Bottom of the table Clown!
@Damien Leen: what a sad life you have. Few pool fans on here are decent lads. You are just an obsessed little man. Get a hobby, seriously.
@Padraic Burke: When he was in his prime, yes
@Damien Leen: aren’t you the great lad abusing and calling names on this platform behind a screen there is really no hope for you.. I asked you last week and Il ask you again DM me and we will have a good oul chat for sure now.. Il be waiting..
@Damien Leen: Not even worth it, yet you insist! Obsessed
@Paul Gorry: Yourself and Leen are obsessed with UTD!
He owes MU nothing. Kept them in the top half of the league for years.
It’s sad that after years of mismanagement it’s left to De Gea to take the blame for this shambles.
@Stephen Lyons: yes agree he is not the problem the club the way it’s run under the owners is the big problem
Watch DeGea come back stronger… have faith in him ….more than I can say about the rest of the present squad
Doesn’t owe utd nothing record club player of the year great shots topper but unfortunately he has declined and going by ETH game plan playing it out from defence will not suit him as unfortunately showed today, (Spain manager Enrique cleary thinks the same by omitting him out of recent squads..Utd have no suitable replacement now after Henderson moving to forest only a 36 year old Tom Heaton.. Typical utd deicisions these last few years.
@Pauly Kel:at least he had the balls to come out to give a interview while the skipper was in looking for hes bottle of wash and go.
@Pauly Kel: having a conversation with yourself I see..only one winner there. Nite Pauly…always have that half and half scarf to cry into.
@Damien Leen: says ya man up commenting as per usual on utd articles at 3 in the morning,sad..
@Pauly Kel:And here’s Dumber…my time keeping not agreeable too you little man…sorry I know you must have been tucked up in bed with your little half and half scarf wrapped around you, crying into it, bless….Have a look at the league table kid…Enjoy!
@Damien Leen: what are you on about half and half scarf? Your a sad case that’s for sure, I’d advise you to take up some sort of a hobby that has nothing to do with man utd, Il let you get some rest now must be tired after been up half the night making childish comments..
My respect for DDG went up because of this game, not down. Yeah it would’ve been better if he didnt let the ball slip through his hands but unfortunately mistakes happen, and goalkeepers get crucified for theirs. The way the outfield team completely imploded after the first goal wasn’t his fault at all, he can’t legislate for Rashford and Sancho strolling around or Martinez getting bullied or Fred and McTominay having the first touch of an elephant. Meanwhile “captain” Harry Maguire played hide and seek with the post match interview again. If he is the senior team member then it speaks volumes about the type of characters in that dressing room.
I blame Pogba!
The question must surely be asked as to who cares?
@M.J. O’ Neill: and the answer to your question is that there are millions that care, just as there are millions that don’t care….each to his own.
Glazers to blame. They need to move on…..which they won’t be doing anytime soon..
@HarveyLemonade: yea good luck with that…let’s see the nx owners putting utd top of the charts for spending the most money on players… but that apparently…doesn’t matter…wat a club!
@HarveyLemonade: your wrong,the players are to blame.
Really really awful mistake by De Gea for the first goal, and another for the second. However after that the team went to pieces….
Maybe time for Henderson to start…. Oh!
Glazers to blame ???? maybe but they are not given a jersey and asked to play the match its the players.. they can all play football but 1/2 of them seem not to have the heart or go in them when things get tough. Time to go back to basics. 4:4:2 / 4:5:1 / 4:3:3…( this new position , the fake no.9 , come on) get the ball in the opposition half as quick as you can. As the great Bill Shankley once said, it’s hard for the other team to score when the balls in their 1/2..
Thoughts and prayers…..!
I don’t mind the terrible performances and results once the twitter apologies keep coming thick and fast. Players looking sad, confused and ashamed at the final whistle also appreciated.
So now Maguire won’t pass to De Gea who won’t pass to Maguire…
Wow a Man United player actually taking responsibility for the disgrace that is the state of this team. Shame to see it’s De Gea, the guy who’s been there as a long as almost anyone, who’s seen the rapid decline of the last decade and one of the few players who you feel actually respects what the club used to stand for. He may have had a howler yesterday but he went on camera and owned it he didn’t say sorry in a tweet and then continue to not improve like our captain did, I’d start him over any of those lot next week against Liverpool
Good luck to Man U in the Championship next season, lol.
@Mike Dunne: good one Mike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Mike Dunne: love it
@Mike Dunne: Man Utd and Ryan Giggs to go down 66/1.
If only the problems were down to the goalkeeper having a nightmare we’d be alright
Cost 3 points… You’d have to score to be in that reckoning.
De Gea, brilliant shot stopper. Henderson, a modern goalkeeper who has great positional sense plus good distribution
St gerards mother baby home cant tell the truth government intervention at its best
Should have promoted Henderson last season
Man Utd has ruined a world class keeper
Ha