(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Thu 25 September 2025 21:00, UK

Ruben Amorim is paying the price for an Erik ten Hag signing which is costing Man United on the pitch.

Man United beat Chelsea 2-1 to record just their second Premier League win of the season before they travel to Brentford next.

The Red Devils have had the week to prepare for the Brentford game after not being involved in Carabao Cup action after Grimsby knocked Man United out of the competition.

Amorim is under pressure and could benefit from another positive result against the Bees having not yet convinced he is the manager to lead Man United forward.

Casemiro blasted for making same mistakes at Man United

Amorim will be without midfielder Casemiro for the trip to London, as the Brazilian was sent off against Chelsea.

Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce though believes Casemiro is a liability in Man United’s midfield.

“He’s been doing the same things for all his career that he should’ve cut out years ago, and particularly now he’s not as quick as he used to be,” Allardyce said on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast, [25 September].

“He should be using his experience to make sure that doesn’t happen, but he’s not. He’s doing the same old things he’s always done, diving in, jumping in.”

The 33-year-old partners Bruno Fernandes in a midfield two in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, a pairing which has been scrutinised for a lack of energy and dynamism.

Casemiro struggling for form

Casemiro has endured a tough season so far in the Premier League, with the midfielder ranking low in many statistics.

Despite being a Champions League winner at Real Madrid, Casemiro has not adapted to the pace of the Premier League.

Manuel Ugarte may earn a start against Brentford in Casemiro’s absence, or Kobbie Mainoo could come into the starting XI.

Mainoo is a more natural box-to-box option with an eye for goal, and Amorim should give the 20-year-old a chance to impress.