Ruben Amorim felt that Alejandro Garnacho’s “complete game” helped Manchester United be “competitive” in tonight’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal.
The Red Devils hosted an Arsenal side fading rapidly from the title race but fresh from a 7-1 Champions League thumping of PSV Eindhoven, and given United’s patchy form it was always going to be a challenging fixture.
But Amorim believes his side acquitted themselves well and could have taken all three points.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, he said: “It helps when you score a goal and don’t suffer [conceding first], you can feel the energy in the stadium.”
Old Trafford has been an unhappy home for the Portuguese, but United took an unlikely lead through a magnificent Bruno Fernandes free kick on the stroke of half time which led to an impressive second-half showing deserving of a win.
Ultimately a Declan Rice equaliser meant the Red Devils had to be satisfied with a point, leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League and unable to leapfrog Tottenham Hotspur who were held to a draw by Bournemouth earlier.
But for Amorim today was a step in the right direction. He said: “In this moment, we try to win games, be compact.
“We were so near in the second half to score a goal. We were really competitive and I think that is important.
“We pushed forward and not back. We had some situations to win the game. Arsenal put a lot of men inside the box to win and I think Alejandro Garnacho did a complete game and that helped us a lot.”
The Argentinian winger was a constant thorn in the side of the Arsenal backline, and carried an attacking threat which has been missing from United for much of the season.
He was not the only player Amorim discussed with the BBC, who also asked for his thoughts on Ayden Heaven, who came on at half-time to make his Premier League debut.
The United boss said: “I think he did really well. He is really comfortable with the ball. So relaxed, very aggressive and I think we have a very good player there.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
