Tag: Amorim

  • Amorim will speak to Garnacho about substitution reaction

    Amorim will speak to Garnacho about substitution reaction

    Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said he would speak to Alejandro Garnacho after the winger went straight to the dressing room when he was substituted in the first half of the 3-2 win against Ipswich.

    Amorim replaced Argentina international Garnacho with defender Noussair Mazraoui two minutes before half-time following Patrick Dorgu’s red card.

    It was raining heavily at Old Trafford and Garnacho seemed to indicate he wanted to take his shirt off, so he headed down the touchline to the dressing room rather than take a place on the bench.

    It is not known whether he stayed for the second half.

    “I am going to talk with Garnacho about that,” said Amorim.

    In December, the 20-year-old attacker was dropped for the derby against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium along with Marcus Rashford, partly due to his poor performance in training and his attitude.

    Unlike Rashford, who has not played for United since and is now on loan at Aston Villa, Garnacho returned to first-team duties immediately.

    “You are making a connection with Rashford,” said Amorim, assessing Wednesday’s situation.

    “It was cold and wet.”

    Amorim’s decision was a tactical one stemming from the red card, allowing his team to largely keep their original shape with five at the back.

    “The thinking was that we would play 5-3-1. That is a risk because he [Garnacho] is the one who can play one-v-one in pace,” Amorim said. “We had to choose someone to go out. It was my choice.”

    The Debrief: Man Utd edge Ipswich, Arsenal stutter & Liverpool go 13 clear

    Man Utd planning post-season matches in Asia

    Modern players find criticism offensive – Ten Hag

    Entertaining win in a difficult week at Man Utd

    Not perfect or pretty but Man Utd stayed in control – Amorin

    This has been a tough week at United, with news that more staff members will be losing their jobs.

    United’s victory therefore will come as little comfort to those directly affected, no matter how entertaining this game proved to be.

    A mid-season home win against opposition who look destined for a swift return to the Championship is not going to live long in the memory.

    However, the manner of the success, fighting back from the concession of a shambolic early opening goal and rallying again after a red card and another avoidable goal, was greeted with enthusiasm from the stands at the final whistle.

    “The fans’ support was amazing,” said Amorim. “I have felt that since day one.

    “They want to see the team fight to the end, no matter what the situation. We did that today. All the things in the game were against us, but we fought through that. You feel the connection. It was a good win for us.”

    Privately, United officials accept this has been a traumatic week and that chief executive Omar Berrada did not find it easy on Monday to stand before staff and tell them the bad news that up to 200 jobs could go in the next four months.

    It is perfectly believable when some currently working at the club say morale among the rank and file is at its lowest ebb.

    But the conviction among those running United is absolute that the changes needed to be made.

    Their problem is an understanding that off-field decisions are assessed through the prism of results at first-team level. And the results have been terrible.

    Early in this contest, with Ipswich leading through the atrocious mix-up that offered Jaden Philogene a fourth-minute tap-in, the visiting fans offered their own pretty blunt assessment of United. The words were somewhat more industrial but effectively: “You’re really not very good.”

    That’s fair enough when assessing opponents who are supposed to be challenging for major honours but started this game 15th in the table.

    Yet those responsible for making key decisions are adamant faith in Amorim remains high. They feel what is currently being endured amounts to teething problems with a coach trying to implement a new system.

    Another change, it is argued, will merely repeat past mistakes. The club have been in a malaise for years, it could be said, and the cycle has to be broken.

    However, there is also an acceptance this will not be straightforward.

    Amorim noted that this success – like the robust rearguard action that brought an FA Cup victory with 10 men at Arsenal and a defiant draw against champions-elect Liverpool – was not achieved in the manner he wants his side to play.

    “We need to survive, but it is hard for me to play like we play in the second half because I feel the players are more comfortable defending the low block,” Amorim said.

    Amazingly, United have now matched their best form under Amorim by going two Premier League games without defeat.

    They are up to 14th but are nine points off the top half of the table and a distant 13 away from a Champions League place, even if the Premier League gets five places as expected.

    No-one at Old Trafford expects Amorim’s side to go on a huge winning run to the end of the season.

    However, there is a feeling that they can improve – and results in the FA Cup fifth-round tie with Fulham on Sunday and the Europa League last-16 tie with Real Sociedad are crucial to maintaining hopes of European qualification. Dorgu will miss the Fulham game through suspension.

    Amorim has learned already that the price of being associated with United is that any action of significance will be amplified. The glare of publicity is fierce.

    Plenty at the club noted within the reaction to this week’s cost-cutting news at United that not many employers offer staff the free lunches that are being taken away. Other companies have made far more people redundant.

    But the allure of United drives interest and therefore commercial revenues far beyond most comparable-sized businesses.

    There is always attention on United, whether about matters on or off the pitch.

    Debate surrounding this game will not be about the result but about that ridiculous opening goal when Dorgu and Andre Onana practically waved Ipswich through to score.

    “When everybody watched that ball, they thought ‘here we go again’,” said Amorim.

    And there was much to discuss about Dorgu’s red card.

    Amorim stressed he saw no malice, explaining: “He doesn’t want to harm anyone. Sometimes you overdo it.”

    So, Amorim’s fourth home Premier League win as United head coach had plenty of drama about it.

    But it will take far more than this to sweep away the dark clouds currently hanging over Old Trafford.

  • Fewer goals than Antony and January regrets – the problems facing Amorim

    Fewer goals than Antony and January regrets – the problems facing Amorim

    When Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag in October, they were 14th in the Premier League table and seven points from both the top four and the bottom three.

    Fast forward three and a half months and the club are 15th, 15 points from the top four and 12 points above the relegation zone after suffering a 1-0 defeat by Tottenham – the eighth league defeat under new manager Ruben Amorim.

    There has been no ‘new manager bounce’ with Portuguese coach Amorim saying he has “a lot of problems” and his job is “so hard”.

    It is no secret that United are enduring a historically poor Premier League campaign but just how large are the problems facing Amorim?

    The worst United team in Premier League history

    Amorim may have jumped the gun when he described this side as “the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United” in January.

    After all, the club were relegated from the first division in 1974.

    But in the Premier League era, they are the worst statistically at this stage of a season.

    United’s tally of 29 points from 25 matches is their lowest at this stage of a Premier League season

    United have lost 12 times in 25 matches, a loss rate of 48%.

    The club are averaging 1.16 points-per-game, which, if continued, would give them an end-of-season points tally of 44 points from 38 matches. That would be their lowest Premier League points tally.

    United have won four, drawn two and lost eight of Amorim’s 14 Premier League matches.

    Only Tottenham, Wolves, Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have earned fewer points than United’s 14 in their 14 Premier League matches under Amorim.

    Amorim has managed 21 matches since joining United. He has won nine, drawn three and lost nine of those matches, giving him a win rate of 43%.

    That is the lowest of any permanent Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 over their first 21 matches in charge, with Louis van Gaal (48%) the next lowest.

    Jose Mourinho (52%), David Moyes (57%), Erik ten Hag (67%) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (71%) all had significantly better records in all competitions from their first 21 matches in charge.

     

    Amorim ‘not worried’ about mounting pressure following Spurs defeat

    Problems in front of goal

    Of all of United’s problems under Amorim, their inability to score enough goals is the most glaring.

    A deeper look at the numbers does not make for happy reading.

    United have scored 28 goals in 25 Premier League matches this season – a rate of 1.12 goals-per-game.

    Only four teams in the division – Ipswich, Southampton, Leicester and Everton – have scored fewer.

    Amad Diallo, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the season with an ankle injury, is the side’s top scorer in the Premier League (six) and all competitions (nine), while centre forwards Rasmus Hojlund (two) and Joshua Zirzkee (three) have managed just five goals in 45 Premier League appearances between them.

    In 14 matches under Ten Hag this season, United’s Expected-Goals-per-game (xG) was 1.7. This has fallen slightly under Amorim, with United’s xG 1.6-per-game since he took charge.

    United’s ‘big chances’ created record is identical under Ten Hag and Amorim this season, with the side creating 2.9 big chances each match.

    Despite United’s struggles, captain Bruno Fernandes is fourth highest for chances created in the league (53). Cole Palmer (66) is top.

    United finished last season with a goal difference of -1, this the first time they had ended a Premier League campaign with a negative goal difference. However, they are on course to eclipse that with a -7 goal difference this term.

    Similarly, while the 57 goals they scored during the 2023-24 campaign was their joint-lowest in the Premier League, they are on course to score fewer this season. If they maintain their rate of 1.12 goals per game, they would finish with 44 scored.

    Mounting injury problems

    During the early weeks of Amorim’s reign, the former Sporting boss bemoaned the lack of time he had been to spend with his players on the training ground.

    However with a less packed schedule with qualification for the Europa League knockout stages assured and a Carabao Cup exit at Tottenham’s hands, Amorim has been able to spend more time on the training ground.

    But a “free week” before Sunday’s trip to Tottenham proved anything but productive.

    Between the 2-1 win against Leicester City in the FA Cup on 7 February and Sunday’s loss to Spurs, United lost six players.

    Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer were ruled out of the trip through injury, while Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen fell ill.

    Their absences added to the long-term casualties of Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans.

    It meant Amorim was forced to name an inexperienced bench against Spurs with Victor Lindelof joined by Elyh Harrison, Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse, Chido Obi, Ayden Heaven and Sekou Kone.

    Sweden defender Lindelof was the only one of those to have previously played for the first team.

    January transfer window regrets

    Manchester United made two signings in the January window, bringing in Patrick Dorgu from Italian club Lecce and defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal but squad was thinner by the end of the window than when it started as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Tyrell Malacia departed on loan.

    Dorgu, a multi-functional left-footed Denmark international, should provide balance at wing-back to Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

    But the decision to allow both Antony and Rashford to leave without signing a replacement looked risky at the time and is proving so now.

    Their departures left Hojlund, Zirzkee, Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho as the side’s only recognised forwards. That list is down to three now, given Diallo’s season-ending injury.

    Garnacho has no Premier League goals or assists since Amorim joined.

    Rashford has made two eye-catching substitute appearances for Aston Villa since moving to Birmingham, and he played a hand in Ollie Watkins’ equaliser against Ipswich on Saturday.

    As for Antony, the Brazilian has scored three times in four matches for Real Betis since moving to Spain. This matches the tally he managed during 38 appearances for United last season and means he has scored more so far in February than United have.

  • ‘My job is so hard’ – Amorim frustrated as Man Utd lose again

    ‘My job is so hard’ – Amorim frustrated as Man Utd lose again

    Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his job is “so hard” after defeat at Tottenham left his side 15th in the Premier League.

    The Portuguese coach oversaw an eighth loss in 12 league games as James Maddison’s 13th-minute goal gave Spurs victory.

    The Red Devils once again struggled, although Amorim is having to contend with a 12-man injury list that led to him having to fill his bench with youngsters.

    Amorim, 40, has provided a number of honest post-match news conferences since joining United and was once again in trademark form on Sunday.

    “I have a lot of problems,” he told Sky Sports. “My job is so hard but I am here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs and I will try to win again.”

    Despite his side being behind for more than 70 minutes, Amorim did not make a change until the first minute of stoppage time, when he brought on 17-year-old Chido Obi.

    The forward was one of eight teenagers on the bench and Amorim suggested after the game that he did not send more on during the game as he did not want to hinder their development.

    “I am trying to be careful with them. I felt the team was pushing for the goal and I felt I don’t want to change. But they will play.

    “I am here to help my players. I understand my situation, my job, I am confident on my work and I just want to win games.

    “The place in the table is my worry, I am not worried about me.”

    ‘Welcome to my world Amorim’ – Ange Postecoglou

    Although United are having to contend with a lengthy injury list, their statistics in the league this season continue to make for miserable reading:

    • They have lost 12 of their 25 games (W8 D5), their most defeats from their first 25 matches since 1973-74 (13), when they were last relegated from the top flight

    • They have lost eight of their past 12 games (W3 D1); since the date of the first match in that spell (4 December v Arsenal) the only sides with more defeats are the current bottom two – Leicester (nine) and Southampton (10)

    • Only Leicester (seven) have scored fewer first-half goals than United (nine). The Red Devils have scored just once in the first half of their past 10 games – a Bruno Fernandes penalty against Brighton in January.

    Former United defender Gary Neville feels there has been little sign of things improving since Amorim succeed Erik ten Hag in November.

    “The club will have to be patient but I would like to see the performance levels getting higher,” he told Sky Sports.

    “This is a very average level that United are performing at week in, week out.

    “The best thing about it [Amorim’s time in charge] has been his press conferences.

    “This is a really poor United team.”

    Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp added: “They are so short of top players, it is going to need a lot of time and patience.

    “The problem is that when you are a club of the enormity of Manchester United you don’t want to hear that.

    “It’s very difficult to watch if you are a Manchester United fan.”

  • We’re ‘fighting’ for our jobs, says Man Utd boss Amorim

    We’re ‘fighting’ for our jobs, says Man Utd boss Amorim

    Ruben Amorim says he and his Manchester United players are “fighting” for their jobs in the final months of the season after a chastening campaign so far.

    The Portuguese has struggled to turn around United’s fortunes since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.

    The club decided not to boost their forward options in the January transfer window even though Marcus Rashford and Antony left on loan, along with defender Tyrell Malacia.

    The departure of homegrown forward Rashford to Aston Villa for the remainder of the season has been the standout decision made by Amorim.

    The 27-year-old’s deal is reported to include an option to make the move permanent and Amorim had no interest in talking any further about the England international when he faced reporters on Thursday.

    “We are fighting for our jobs until the summer,” he said.

    “So, I am just focused on these games. Thankfully about Marcus he is in Birmingham now with Unai (Emery), so you can take these questions to another coach. We are just focused on our players at the moment.”

    Amorim, whose team host Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, admitted United had taken a risk with their transfer business, admitting it would be tough going until the end of the season.

    They brought in highly rated defenders Patrick Dorgu, 20, and 18-year-old Ayden Heaven.

    “I think it is a moment that is hard to turn things around in just a few games,” Amorim said. “It’s going to be like that, really hard, until the end of the season.

    “Then we are taking that risk that you talk about, because we want a different thing in our team and different profiles, and that is my area, so it was my decision to do that.”

    He said the club had not wanted to repeat past mistakes in the transfer market.

    “What I feel is the club is taking its time,” Amorim said. “We know the urgency of the moment, the moment of the team.

    “But I think everybody here doesn’t want to make some mistakes that we did in past, so we have to improve players we have and to win some games.”

    Amorim admitted he was under enormous pressure to deliver, with the club languishing 13th in the Premier League table.

    “Since day one, with good results or bad results, I have a clear idea of what I want to do and I take these risks because in the end I think it’s going to pay off,” he said.

    “But I’m not naive, I already said that many times, this is a sport of results, and we are in a difficult situation.”

    Van Nistelrooy, a former star striker at United, is returning to Old Trafford for the first time since he left his role as assistant manager following Amorim’s appointment.

    United confirmed on Thursday that defender Lisandro Martinez had sustained cruciate ligament damage, which is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.