Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen has explained how his team targeted Manchester United's Christian Eriksen during their stunning 4-0 victory.
The Bees humilated Erik ten Hag's side with four unanswered strikes that included goalkeeping errors, failure to clear set-pieces, and giving the ball away in poor areas.
Eriksen, who left the Brentford Community Stadium to join the Red Devils over the summer, gave the ball away for the hosts' second goal. The 30-year-old playmaker endured a torrid return to west London as he consistently gave the ball away following relentless pressing.
Following the emphatic victory, goalscorer Jensen told Sky Sports (as per The Manchester Evening News):
"They couldn’t cope with our pressure, our long balls, picking up the second balls. I think we did everything excellent and we could see they were struggling. It was me or either Josh Dasilva, we had to put the pressure on their six, especially if it was Christian Eriksen playing because we know he wants to dictate the game.
“So we tried to be as aggressive as possible because we know they want to play. If you can get at them you have a big chance."
Eriksen was instrumental in the Bees staying in the Premier League last term following his signing in January. The Denmark international joined the Red Devils in the summer on a free transfer, but has suffered a poor start so far.
Thomas Frank admits his Brentford team targeted new Manchester United player
Lisandro Martinez signed for big money in the summer from Ajax, but has endured a nightmare start to life in English football.
The 24-year-old was hooked by Erik ten Hag at half-time after he was well beaten in the air for the third goal, with many questioning why Manchester United have signed a 5' 9" centre-back.
Following the clash, Bees boss Frank was asked by Sky Sports if his team deliberately targeted the diminutive Argentine international, to which he replied:
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when I saw that horrible first half display from utd...I was actually self shocked and wondered about wats happening for our players and my beloved players...we always tried to build an attack from behind but unfortunately this has to say de gea is not so good with the ball...then how on earth he passed that ball to Erik when he was on pressure from jensen...First goal a hauler and the second came from bad vision...spirit of the entire team went down in a blink...as a baller I can truly understand how much these things will affect the entire team...then the wing play from the left and right...I don't know really wats happening with our wingers especially sancho who is not at all ready to take on a defender one on one with the skills he is having with the ball...always passes the ball backward then the intensity of the attack goes to zero...to be Frank wingers either our rb or lb didn't able to give a threatening ball to the box too...dalot is very poor in giving the ball to the final third too...Shaw's performance was miserable today as well...midfield is trying too much things and horrible passes...not even trying to hold on to the ball and letting the strikers to find a space for the final ball...about center backs Harry as usual is had some ball watching moments...martinez was no where near his form last year and as a baller it will take some time for him to adapt and adjust with the physicality of the league... changes I expect for the next next fixture should be like:- *replace maguire with varane *malacia instead of Shaw *bissaka for dalot *garner for Fred *Bruno or Erik either one of them should be benched from the starting eleven *garnacho for rashford...its a gamble and we should go for this when we see the confidence level of rashy note:-when we face a counter attack we can change into 3 cb role with garner helping them in a defensive role... I think this one will give us a good result wat we are expecting from the team I'm always behind the team whenever they lose or win from 1998...I witnessed an era of which we managed to win many trophies and silverwares...inside my heart it's very hard to see my team losing without giving away a fight to the opponents... it's a kind request from me as a utd fan that if u can't be with the players and the club in their failures then u shouldn't be there when we suceed.... for all the rival fans who was so abusive on the social media with some below standard trolls and comments...u can enjoy these moments upto its maximum but kindly remember that every coin has two sides...when we hit back on the same way as you people doing pls don't complaint us for that... #man utd forever #Ggmu