The result leaves United bottom of the Premier League after losing to Brighton last weekend as four goals in the first 35 minutes helped Brentford to an emphatic victory – the club’s first against United since 1938.
Josh Dasilva opened the scoring when his long-range shot was knocked down by David de Gea, and minutes later another United error – this time by former Brentford player Christian Eriksen, who lost possession nearly of his goal – allowed Mathias Jensen to score a second.
Ben Mee’s bunched header from a corner added to United’s woes, before Bryan Mbeumo completed a deft counterattack when he received Ivan Toney’s pass and overtook de Gea.
United had chances in the second half through Eriksen and a header from Cristiano Ronaldo, but any hope of a comeback remained out of reach.
It is the first time since 1992 that United have lost their first two games of a Premier League campaign, and the challenges continue to arise with Liverpool on August 22.
“Brentford were hungrier, one and two, we conceded (on) individual errors,” ten Hag told reporters after the game. “You can have a good plan but then throw it away.”
United struggled to cope with Brentford’s pressing in the first half of Saturday’s game and lost possession in the run-up to the first two goals.
“They (the players) make a bad decision, and that’s football. It’s a game of mistakes and we get punished,” added ten Hag.
“It’s naive how we played today. We have to play more direct. We attracted them, the space was high on the pitch… We will learn, we have to learn. But it’s not good , it’s pretty clear at this level.”
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester City and Arsenal continued their unbeaten start to the season – City with a 4-0 win over Bournemouth and Arsenal with an entertaining 4-2 win over Leicester City.
Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden all scored in the first half for City, while Jefferson Lerma’s own goal completed the rout.
Gabriel Jesus, signed from City in the summer, scored twice on his home debut for Arsenal, first with a superb lob over Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward and then again with a back post header from a corner.
William Saliba’s own goal and James Madison’s effort from a tight angle saw Leicester hit back – either side of Granit Xhaka’s single finish after Ward knocked down a cross – but Gabriel Martinelli’s goal with 15 minutes to play concluded an Arsenal victory.
