Manchester United will not dwell on a defeat to Brentford, instead focusing on the positives to emerge.
The defensive issues will be solved hopefully by the return of key players, amid plenty of rotation, so the optimistic view is to look at the three goals scored in the 4-3 loss.
Alejandro Garnacho scored his 11th goal of the season while Amad came off the bench to score his 10th, and his first since injury.
The scoring was opened by Mason Mount, who netted his first goal of the season and his first goal since the 1-1 draw away at Brentford 13 months ago.
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty ImagesMason Mount performance praised
Mason Mount‘s goal will be a great confidence booster for the attacking midfielder, who has barely got started since his summer 2023 move from Chelsea.
Mount was making just his fifth Premier League start of the season, the same number he managed in the 2023/24 campaign.
Speaking to MUTV, former player Sammy McIlroy spoke of his hope that Mount can enjoy a period of better luck.
Speaking about his goal, he commented: “He took it really well, class, and that’s the type of player he is.
“If he has a run of games, gets himself fit, we’ve got a good player on our hands, and let’s hope next season, he has that better luck and consistency, plays games.”
Former United defender David May doubled down, offering hope that Mount will get an opportunity in the Europa League semi-final second leg.
“He’ll want to finish the season strong. He’ll want a place on Thursday, to help get through to a final and finish the end of the season.”
May agrees that United might see a better Mount next season, trotting out the ‘like a new signing’ trope.
“And then, you know, it’s all about what it does between the end of the season and preseason. Keeps ticking over, keeps keeps itself strong and fit. Get a good preseason under your belt, and he starts a fresh with Man United.
“It would be like buying a new player, because you know the amount of games he has missed this season. You want to see him back playing.”
.How Mason Mount performed
Mason Mount played 57 minutes for Manchester United against Brentford, with Ruben Amorim looking to preserve him for the semi-final second leg.
Mount’s heatmap from the game shows how he actually had a large concentration of his play in his own half, as well as the opposition’s.
Mount had three shots at goal, two on target, while making two tackles, a busy all around performance in which he struck his opening goal of the season.
It was a snippet of what Mount can do, as always, the best is yet to come, and while the discussion on MUTV focused on what might lie ahead ‘next season’, there is still time in 2024/25.
With a Europa League final potentially on the horizon, Mount could cap his second season by making a decisive impact.