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Sunday 04 May 2025 12:45
Ruben Amorim has selected a record-breaking XI as Manchester United take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium this afternoon.
According to Opta Analyst’s X account, it is the club’s youngest-ever starting line-up in the Premier League, with the 11 players having an average age of 22 years and 270 days.
Meanwhile Opta Joe have posted that it’s the third-youngest selection for any Premier League club, behind only Middlesbrough’s team against Fulham in May 2006 (20 years 181 days) and Arsenal’s line-up for their May 2009 meeting with Portsmouth (22 years 237 days).
With one eye on next Thursday’s UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Club at Old Trafford, Amorim has rested the majority of the team that performed brilliantly to secure a 3-0 lead from the first leg in Bilbao.
Only left wing-back Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, midfielder Manuel Ugarte and forward Alejandro Garnacho retain their places in the XI, which features a first start for Chido Obi as the centre-forward.
Obi, in fact, is United’s youngest starter in a Premier League match, at the age of 17 years and 156 days. The previous record holder was Mason Greenwood, at 17 years and 223 days (source: Opta Analyst).
Altay Bayindir is in goal, making only his second Premier League appearance, with Andre Onana rested altogether. Tom Heaton provides cover on the bench, where he’s joined by captain Bruno Fernandes and his fellow goalscorer in Bilbao, Casemiro, among others. Amad is again named as a substitute too, as his recovery from injury continues.
Meanwhile, Brentford boss Thomas Frank has selected the same starting XI that impressively won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest on Thursday night to keep themselves in the hunt for European football next season.
The Bees are the only team in the Premier League this season to have two players who have both registered 20 or more goal involvements, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, and both are in the line-up, providing a challenge for United’s fully rotated defence.
Chido Obi arrives at Brentford for his first Premier League start.
When asked by Sky Sports if selecting the team with the Europa League in mind, Amorim replied: “It is really hard, because we also want to improve our [position in the] table.
“We want to win games. In this league, it’s really important for us, but we have to make a choice. And it’s not [just] about the players you put in these kind of games, it’s putting all these players together.
“And that is hard, not just for me but also for the players. But, in this moment, I think everyone can understand our choice.”
On the subject of Obi’s selection, Amorim added: “I think we need to focus a lot on our young players.
“For me, it’s not a massive game for Chido. I know that it’s important for Chido, but I don’t want a lot of pressure on Chido, I just want him to do what he knows. He played really well in those minutes against Wolverhampton, and then Newcastle, with the rotation.
“He’s improving a lot and I feel that he’s ready to cope with the demands of the Premier League. [Harry] Amass has already shown that he’s ready, Tyler [Fredricson] the same.
“It will be tough for them because this team [Brentford] is really strong in front, with a lot of pace. But the [young players] are improving, so they are ready.”
THE TEAMS
Brentford: Flekken; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard (c), Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Mbuemo, Wissa, Schade.
Substitutes: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen, Thiago, Mee, Ajer, Konak, Nunes.
United: Bayindir; Fredricson, De Ligt, Shaw (c); Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Ugarte, Mainoo, Amass; Garnacho, Mount; Obi.
Substitutes: Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Amad, Hojlund.
Kick-off at the Gtech Community Stadium is set for 14:00 BST and you can follow live updates in our app and Match Centre on ManUtd.com.
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Sunday 04 May 2025 12:45
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