Ten Hag: I feel sorry for the fans
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his sympathy for the supporters who travelled to Brentford and observed the team's 4-0 defeat.
As usual, the away end was packed out, despite widespread travel disruption making the trip to the capital a challenge for fans.
However, the chastening evening on the field at the Gtech Community Stadium did not deter the travelling Reds from showing defiance in their corner of the ground.
90 in 20: Brentford v United
See the extended highlights of our Premier League trip to the Gtech Community Stadium here...
“I feel really sorry for the fans," said Ten Hag in a post-match interview.
“They give everything to support us and we let them down.”
Even when the players returned to the field at the start of the second 45, already trailing 4-0, the away fans maintained the decibel levels, with chants including the Manchester United Calypso song being given a loud and prolonged airing.
When asked if he had a message for the fans following the defeat, the boss said: “I feel really sorry for them. This is not the way I want to play, this is not the way I want to deliver.
“They make a lot of effort to come over here, the supporters.”
Ten Hag has learned a lot about his players but he will also have discovered the true strength of United's away support in this, his first domestic game on the road as the new manager.