Two Thomas Frank quotes on Manchester United should give Sir Jim Ratcliffe a decision to make

Thomas Frank sounded more pleased with Brentford when they lost and nearly lost to Manchester United than when they won.

After United's 3-1 win at the Community Stadium in January 2022, Frank opined, "We destroyed them in the first half, they didn't have a sniff.

"The way we smashed them in the first half was fantastic, so proud of my team. They (United) are unbelievably lucky. I know all the crap about taking chances. They changed the system against little Brentford."

United at least recovered under Ralf Rangnick that night and clinically defeated Brentford with three goals in 22 second-half minutes. At the same ground last season, Erik ten Hag's team got worse.

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United almost committed floodlit robbery on Easter Saturday before Brentford's 99th-minute equaliser. Frank said afterwards: "I think this performance was one or two levels higher than the 4-0 win against them."

There was key context, too. Brentford had won seven of their 29 Premier League games and lost seven of their past ten. They were devoid of their entire back four and had to field their third-choice left back as loanee Sergio Reguilon was ineligible through his forgettable loan with United. United were only missing the seldom-missed Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

"But we destroyed Man United in many ways, 31 shots," Frank said. “I’m so, so, so happy that we got at least a point; if not, I probably would have lost faith in the football Gods!"

Two results against Brentford mark the nadirs of Ten Hag's tenure. In the 11 years attending United matches in press, their 4-0 hammering by Brentford in August 2022 is the most egregious performance by a United side that this correspondent has been present for. Frank dubiously said: "I don't think it was a 4-0 win."

Brentford were undeniably better when they almost lost to Mason Mount's 96th-minute goal nearly seven months ago. Four of the 31 attempts they unleashed smacked the goalframe.

"How are we not ahead?" mumbled a Brentford fan as he headed for the concourse at half-time. A United-supporting friend's neighbour is a Brentford fan and confessed the next day he was staggered by how appalling United were.

Brentford have won one of their six Premier League games against United and lost four but, save for an inconsequential defeat in United's final home fixture of the 2021-22 season, they invariably run them close. Last year, they led United in the 93rd minute at Old Trafford. With Ten Hag on his knees, Scott McTominay stood up.

United claimed goals in the 93rd, 96th and 97th minute against Brentford home and away last term. Brentford have remarkably scored inside two minutes in each of their past four fixtures.

Brentford's three losses this season have been to teams that finished in the top five last season: Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham. The underrated Bryan Mbeumo has tallied more Premier League goals than United. Brentford scored as many goals against Wolves as United have in seven games.

The sub-plot to this weekend's match is Frank. Type 'Thomas Frank' into Google and the top result that appears is 'thomas frank man utd'. There is obvious appeal in a coach synonymous with longevity and whose team has an established style, underpinned by impressive recruitment.

Perhaps Frank is too wedded to Brentford. He has been there six years now. United is too great a leap for a thoroughly impressive coach and communicator but Frank would be worthy of taking charge of a club in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Apart from City, who seem to have Ruben Amorim as their duck lined up should Pep Guardiola go, United are the only storied club where there is likely to be a vacancy in the near future. With Thomas Tuchel out of the picture, his namesake Frank could be in the frame.

Having seen the scoreboard change from 0-1 in the 93rd minute to 2-1 in the 97th, Frank put on an admirably brave face in the Old Trafford press conference room last October. Unprompted, he classily mentioned Ten Hag.

"I know when it's good for other managers," Frank noted. "I'm happy for Erik that they won but not happy for myself that we didn't win. Because I think he would have faced a pretty brutal room if he lost."

Had McTominay's rescue party not come off, it would have been seven defeats in 11 for United. It would be four in 12 if Brentford leave Old Trafford victorious for the first time since 1937 on Saturday.