Danny Welbeck claimed Ruben Amorim’s team is the best Manchester United side ‘we have faced in a while’.This followed the Red Devils’ securing a mostly deserved 4-2 win against Brighton in the Premier League.Three points secured also saw the Portuguese head coach secure his first three consecutive wins at the United helm in the English top-flight.Danny Welbeck just confirmed new Manchester United reality(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)As things currently stand at the time of writing, 16 points secured in nine Premier League games sees us return to the top four spots.Whether Manchester United stay put for the time being, of course, depends on follow-up results from Liverpool (currently losing to Brentford), Bournemouth, and Tottenham.Regardless of what occurs over the rest of the weekend, Amorim should be proud of the improvement.And who better to assess this new reality than former Red Devil Welbeck?“It is the best [Man Utd] side we have faced in a while. They were really organised and structured, they always have incredible players and today they really punished our mistakes,” the Brighton striker told Sky Sports.“A difficult game but one we can look back and analyse. I do believe we can come here and get the three points.“I’m feeling really good. Fit and strong, I’m glad to be among the goals and most important thing is trying to get the three points and I will keep on doing my best.”The best Man United side the Premier League has seen in years?(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)United are in a very good moment – as their recent record in the Premier League 100% confirms.However, the road in any given season is a long one, especially in English football.That said, few can deny Manchester United are building up a head of steam that all seemed to be kick-started by a 2-1 at Anfield.Fortuitous, as some may claim, judging by the in-game stats, to the victor must go the spoils, and Amorim’s men have not let up since. READ MORE: Watch what Ruben Amorim did instantly after Matheus Cunha goal vs Brighton We remain confident that if the former Premier League greats can secure around eight or nine points from November’s batch of fixtures – we should be taken seriously as a contender for a Champions League slot.
Manchester United just did something unseen in 14 months vs Brighton
Manchester United have won three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since August 2024.To put that into perspective, Erik ten Hag was still the man in charge at Old Trafford – a whole 14 months ago!Somewhat embarrassingly, two of the wins in question were secured right at the end of the 2022/23 season. 15 May 2024: 3-2 win vs Newcastle 19 May 2024: 2-0 win vs Brighton 16 August 2024: 1-0 win vs Fulham Three points against Fulham preceded an awful run of form through to the end of October, with United securing eight points from a possible 24 in the English top-flight. Ruben Amorim stats Erik ten Hag stats 51 games 128 1.41 points per game 1.84 points per game * Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag’s stats as Manchester United managers (Transfermarkt)Ten Hag, however, for those keeping count, still maintains a superior record to his successor in Manchester.Stu ForsterManchester United turn a corner in the Premier League(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Ruben Amorim’s men may still be far from where they want to be. There’s no European football to speak of, and the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, and even Liverpool look far better equipped to mount a serious attack on the Premier League title.Yet, as we react to a 4-2 win over Brighton on Sunday, the table tells an interesting tale. One, dare we say it, of a resurgent Manchester United outfit who have leapfrogged the Merseysiders (with a game in hand) in the standings.The Premier League giants have done it with aplomb, too; winning for the first time at Anfield in under a decade and battering Brighton at home.There’s still something to be said for the encouragement United gave the Seagulls in the latter half hour or so of action. Yet, there are positive signs aplenty for a side that had previously looked rudderless.Ruben Amorim must exploit clear advantage(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)If Amorim is to help get the Red Devils back on track in the 2025/26 season, there’s one factor he must ruthlessly exploit.Turn the lack of European football, as embarrassing as it may be for a club of United’s stature, into an advantage.The likes of Liverpool and Co. could very well end up playing in excess of 60 games across all competitions this term. READ MORE: ‘Really good’ ‘Brilliant’: Gary Neville & BBC pundit really impressed with one Man Utd star vs Brighton With Manchester United already out of the Carabao Cup – and only the FA Cup and Premier League football to focus on – we’ll be keeping under the 50-game mark.That’s more time for Ruben Amorim to work with his side on the training pitch and prepare for each game as it comes.Time may very well make all the difference for the former Sporting Lisbon coach.With another impressive victory at Old Trafford, he’s certainly bought himself plenty of it in the United hotseat.
United U-turn pushes Joshua Zirkzee towards January exit, clubs across Europe circling – report
Manchester United made it three wins on the bounce yesterday, beating Brighton and Hove Albion 4-2 at Old Trafford. Summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were on the scoresheet, and Benjamin Sesko got an assist, an indication that Ruben Amorim’s new frontline is starting to click. This is good news for United, but only deepens Joshua Zirkzee’s problems. Zirkzee unhappy at United The Dutchman came off the bench against Brighton, but only when the win already looked secure. His spell on the pitch brought his Premier League playing time this season up to a measly 82 minutes – far from satisfactory for a player keen to feature for his nation at the World Cup. It has long been reported that Zirkzee is looking to leave Old Trafford in search of more regular football, although Fabrizio Romano explained that the player is not creating any problems at United and is a popular figure in the dressing room. Numerous clubs have been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old, including Premier League sides Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Everton and a host of clubs across Europe. Roma storm into the race TBR Football report today that Roma are now “pushing hard” for Zirkzee, and are looking to make room for him by sending on-loan Brighton striker Evan Ferguson back to England. Transfer expert Graeme Bailey told TBR football that Zirkzee is Roma’s “favoured choice” if they are successful in offloading the Irishman. United stance changed The messaging up to now has been clear that United will keep hold of the player despite his lack of gametime, with Amorim understood to be reluctant to let him go. However, Bailey believes that the Red Devils are now prepared to sanction his loan exit in January. He states confidently that “Zirkzee is set to move”, and that “United are going to sanction it”. He explains that the club “really like his attitude and commitment” but after the heavy investment over the summer realise that “he is way down the pecking order”. United want him to go the World Cup, and understand that “the only chance is for him to play next year”. If the club’s stance has really changed, there will be a frenzied rush to sign Zirkzee on loan in January with teams in Spain, France and Germany joining Premier League and Serie A sides in the race. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social 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. He cut his teeth working in print media for local newspapers and entered football journalism covering the grassroots game for the Non-League Paper. Here he achieved a career high, interviewing United legend Sir Bobby Charlton to get his views on the lower echelons of the football pyramid. To kill time during international breaks Joe writes album reviews and has strong views on post punk for Plus One Magazine.
Ex-United star struggling with off-field issues tipped for a blockbuster Premier League return – report
Scott McTominay has enjoyed a new lease of life since leaving Manchester United in the summer of 2024 to join Napoli. The Scottish midfielder enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in Serie A, registering 12 goals and six assists in 34 games to help the Partenopei win the league. McTominay was named the Serie A MVP last season for his performances. He subsequently earned a place on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist and finished 18th in the final rankings. In his short time in Italy, the Scot has achieved near-godlike status among the Napoli faithful. A shrine in the heart of the City McFratm, as he is affectionately nicknamed by fans in Napoli, has already become part of the city’s football folklore. McTominay’s impact in Italy has been so great that a shrine was created in his honour on Vico San Nicola a Nilo in May this year. The shrine features an image of the Scot, along with the word ‘McFratm’ and the initials ‘N4’. McTominay has continued his fine form this season, scoring four goals and setting up one more in 10 appearances across all competitions. However, it now appears that the 28 year old could be set for a swift return to the Premier League. Off-the-pitch struggles According to The Sun, McTominay is feeling the pressures of fame and is struggling to cope with life off the pitch in Italy. A source told the British newspaper: “Scott loves elements of Italian life and had a wonderful first season. But the passion of the fans can be a blessing but also make things difficult.” “He is treated as a god over there but it means he finds it difficult to do simple things when he’s not training. The attention can be suffocating.” McTominay’s impressive rise in Italy has also raised questions about United’s decision to let him go as well. For the record, the Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League last season and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. Ruben Amorim is slowly turning things around this campaign, around a year after taking charge at Old Trafford. However, the midfield remains his team’s Achilles heel, and the Red Devils are expected to invest heavily in the position in 2026. It is unclear, however, whether the Premier League giants will consider a return for their prodigal son next year. Feature image Francesco Pecoraro via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
Every player to line up for United alongside the club’s longest-serving star, he assisted v Brighton
Manchester United’s 2014 signing of Luke Shaw was big news. The 18-year-old had built a phenomenal reputation at Southampton and had already made his England debut, so it was no surprise to see big clubs circling. With Patrice Evra entering the twilight of his United career, and Alex Buttner departing after failing to nail down a first-team spot, manager Louis van Gaal sought to capitalise on the groundwork laid by predecessor David Moyes to complete a deal for the exciting left-back. The only potential problem was that the player himself was a boyhood Chelsea fan, and the Blues were also interested. In the end United won the race, convincing him with a £100,000-a-week contract and the opportunity to be the immediate heir to Evra. The Red Devils were delighted to get the deal done and now, 11 years later, Shaw is the longest-serving player currently at the club. Over nearly 300 appearances for United, the Englishman has lined up alongside more than 100 players. Here are the ten players he has played with the most, followed by the full list below. 1. David de Gea Given that only six players have made more appearances for United than the Spanish goalkeeper, and that he only left Old Trafford in 2023, it’s no surprise that he is the man Shaw has shared a pitch with the most. De Gea lined up between the sticks behind Shaw 209 times and the two combined to keep 68 clean sheets, meaning the English left-back helped secure more than a third of the 190 the Spaniard amassed during his illustrious United career. 2. Marcus Rashford Aside from their England link-ups on international duty (14), Rashford and Shaw lined up together exactly 200 times in United red. The pair won 109 of those matches, meaning Shaw has tasted victory with Rashford more times than anyone else. The Mancunian forward is also the player with whom Shaw has had the most productive relationship, with the left-back providing five assists for his compatriot and receiving one in return. While Rashford is still a United player, currently on loan at Barcelona, his time at the club looks to be at an end meaning the two have most likely played their last game together – a 4-0 win over Everton last season. 3. Bruno Fernandes One of only two current United players to make it into this list, captain Bruno Fernandes has played 167 games alongside Shaw. The two have combined for four goals so far, each one a Shaw assist converted by the Portuguese magnifico. The Englishman looks to be firmly in Ruben Amorim’s plans this season and Fernandes is basically undroppable, so the pair will doubtless be adding to their shared performances as the campaign wears on. 4. Victor Lindelof The Swedish centre-back enjoyed a long career at Old Trafford, although despite racking up 284 appearances never quite seemed good enough to shake the question mark hanging over his head going into each transfer window. Nevertheless, he is the defender Shaw spent the most time sharing a backline with as the duo weathered some difficult times together. 5. Scott McTominay That the Ballon d’Or nominee played 150 matches with Shaw is a reminder of how long he spent at United before departing for Napoli. The Scot was an absolute revelation in Italy and drove his new side to a Serie A title in his first season. He never enjoyed that level of success at United, but did lift an FA Cup and a Carabao Cup with United’s longest-serving current player. 6. Anthony Martial Signed for big money from Monaco in 2015, a year after Shaw arrived, the French centre-forward will always be best remembered for his debut, scoring an incendiary goal against Liverpool. Shaw was on the pitch when the young Martial was brought off the bench to give United fans hope that their club had signed a world-beater. He was also there for the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth which would be Martial’s last game as a Red Devil. The striker scored 90 goals for United, and Shaw assisted two of them. 7. Fred The other half of the infamous McFred midfield axis played alongside Shaw almost as much as McTominay, appearing with him 141 times. It took the Brazilian a while to demonstrate why United spent nearly £50m to sign him from Shakhtar Donetsk, but he grew into himself and was a reliably hard worker in the centre of the park. Fred left Old Trafford in 2023 to join Fenerbahce. 8. Harry Maguire The only other current player to make this list, Maguire has played 139 times with Shaw and looks set to build on that number having played his way back into the first team. As well as combining at the back to achieve 51 clean sheets and counting, Shaw pinged in a cross for Maguire to open the scoring in a 4-2 win at Leeds United several seasons ago. 9. Paul Pogba The return of the mercurial Frenchman to United from Juventus was meant to be the rocket that that put the Red Devils back at the top of the tree. Despite some truly blockbuster performances it never quite worked out like that, and ultimately he left Old Trafford for Juventus once again on a free. During that spell in Manchester he featured in 133 games with Shaw, who laid on an assist for him to open the scoring in a 1-1 draw with Burnley in 2022. 10. Aaron Wan-Bissaka The only other player to have played over 100 games with Shaw for United, Wan-Bissaka spent 118 matches occupying the opposite defensive flank while centre-backs came and went in between. Now at West Ham, the full-back nicknamed the Spider for his freakish tackling ability never posed the same attacking threat as Shaw, who assisted one of the two goals he ever scored in United red. Teammates Grouped by Position Goalkeepers Player Matches David de Gea 209 Sergio Romero 29 André Onana 23 Dean Henderson 19 Altay Bayındır 10 Joel Pereira 2 Lee Grant 1 Tom Heaton 1 Martin Dúbravka 1 Senne Lammens 3 Defenders Player Matches Victor Lindelöf 157 Harry Maguire 139 Aaron Wan-Bissaka 118 Chris Smalling 67 Eric Bailly 55 Raphaël Varane 54 Ashley Young 54 Diogo Dalot 83 Daley Blind 42 Antonio Valencia 42 Lisandro Martínez 38 Phil Jones 38 Marcos Rojo 30 Matteo Darmian 20 Axel Tuanzebe 18 Matthijs de Ligt 14 Leny Yoro 15 Paddy McNair 10 Noussair Mazraoui 9 Rafael 6 Jonny Evans 6 Tyrell Malacia 16 Brandon Williams 16 Patrick Dorgu 15 Alex Telles 5 Sergio Reguilón 4 Harry Amass 4 Tyler Blackett 2 Di’Shon Bernard 1 Ethan Laird 1 Willy Kambwala 1 Tyler Fredricson 1 Tom Thorpe 1 Ayden Heaven 1 Midfielders Player Matches Scott McTominay 150 Fred 141 Paul Pogba 133 Nemanja Matić 98 Ander Herrera 63 Casemiro 62 Marouane Fellaini 46 Christian Eriksen 38 Donny van de Beek 32 Michael Carrick 28 Kobbie Mainoo 26 Manuel Ugarte 17 Henrikh Mkhitaryan 15 Marcel Sabitzer 14 Morgan Schneiderlin 9 Bastian Schweinsteiger 9 Sofyan Amrabat 7 Darren Fletcher 3 James Garner 2 Dylan Levitt 1 Ethan Galbraith 1 Wingers & Attacking Midfielders Player Matches Bruno Fernandes 167 Marcus Rashford 200 Juan Mata 97 Mason Greenwood 81 Jesse Lingard 81 Jadon Sancho 55 Antony 46 Daniel James 42 Alejandro Garnacho 50 Amad Diallo 21 Mason Mount 18 Ángel Di María 16 Adnan Januzaj 12 Facundo Pellistri 10 Bryan Mbeumo 9 Tahith Chong 8 Angel Gomes 3 Hannibal 1 Largie Ramazani 1 Omari Forson 1 Shola Shoretire 1 Forwards Player Matches Anthony Martial 143 Romelu Lukaku 47 Edinson Cavani 39 Wayne Rooney 37 Cristiano Ronaldo 32 Wout Weghorst 23 Rasmus Højlund 22 Robin van Persie 15 Odion Ighalo 14 Radamel Falcao 12 Memphis Depay 12 Benjamin Šeško 9 Matheus Cunha 8 James Wilson 5 Joshua Zirkzee 5 Chicharito 3 Chido Obi 2 D’Mani Mellor 1 Data taken from Transfermarkt. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social 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. He cut his teeth working in print media for local newspapers and entered football journalism covering the grassroots game for the Non-League Paper. Here he achieved a career high, interviewing United legend Sir Bobby Charlton to get his views on the lower echelons of the football pyramid. To kill time during international breaks Joe writes album reviews and has strong views on post punk for Plus One Magazine.
United’s strongest and most skilful player hasn’t even started a league game this season – report
Manchester United picked up their third win in a row on Saturday, handing Brighton & Hove Albion a 4-2 defeat at Old Trafford. United seemingly took a lot of confidence from their win over Liverpool at Anfield, as they started the game against Brighton on the front foot, delivering one of the most convincing halves of football under Ruben Amorim. Every United player named in the starting lineup looked assured against the Seagulls, who had to rely on Danny Welbeck’s stunning free-kick late in the game to wake up the away crowd. After the final whistle, Welbeck told Sky Sports: “It is the best [Man Utd] side we have faced in a while.” Leny Yoro lauds Kobbie Mainoo It seems things can only get better from here for the Red Devils, with new signings starting to gel, and young stars like Benjamin Sesko, Amad Diallo and Leny Yoro progressing well under Amorim. Yoro, in particular, was largely solid against Brighton and did well to limit Yankuba Minteh’s threat down his side. Recently, the Frenchman, who has well and truly settled into life in England, sat down with DAZN and built his “perfect footballer” by picking out his teammates. He gave his defensive partner, Matthijs de Ligt, the nod for defending and Game IQ. Meanwhile, for physicality and skill, he made a very interesting choice. Mainoo continues to struggle under Amorim Yoro picked Mainoo for both his strength and skill, underlining just how highly the United academy product is rated at Carrington. However, Mainoo has struggled to win over Amorim. The 20-year-old is technically United’s most gifted midfielder. Still, he is yet to be handed a Premier League start this season. Amorim acknowledges Mainoo’s potential, but he has raised question marks over his defensive acumen and ability to progress the play at a swift pace. Further, the United youngster is competing with Bruno Fernandes for a starting role in the middle of the park, a battle he is unlikely to win anytime soon. Mainoo received an incredible reception when he came on in the second half against Brighton. United are on the up, and it could get even better if Amorim can find a way to incorporate the Englishman more effectively. Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
100% aerials duels won, 100% dribbles completed: United Women star makes sensational return to international scene
Manchester United Women had three players in international action yesterday afternoon. Ella Toone The United star played 90 minutes of England’s 1-2 defeat to Brazil. Her biggest contribution came in the match when she was sent through on goal but was brought down by the Brazilian defender, Angelina, who was sent off after just 21 minutes. She didn’t have any key passes in the match but she did complete 84% of her passes. Toone did try and grab an equaliser with three shots with one being blocked by the strong Brazilian defence. She won her only aerial duel but could only win one of her six ground battles. Maya Le Tissier The United captain started as a right back against the Brazilians and played the entire 90 minutes of action. Despite Le Tissier playing as a centre back for United, the England boss Sarina Wiegman sees the youngster as a better full back. She made seven recoveries and won all three of her aerial duels and won one ground battle. Le Tissier also made one key pass in the match, completing 89% of her passes. Unfortunately, none of her three crosses were met by a teammate. In a successful showing, she also completed her only dribble attempt. Safia Middleton-Patel The young Welsh star started Wales’ narrow 1-2 defeat to Australia. She made two saves in total, with one coming from a shot inside the area. Patel also completed her only run out of the match. She did make one clearance and completed 75% of her passing attempts. There was little she could do for Australia’s opener when they scored from close range. She perhaps could have done better for the Aussies’ late winner though as the ball went over her head into the roof of the net. Feature image Molly Darlington via Getty Images – The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
4 saves, 1 clean sheet: United loanee continues to make great strides in new chapter of career
Manchester United had numerous youngsters and senior players in loan action yesterday. To follow where all of United’s loanees are playing this season, click here. Andre Onana The Cameroonian kept a clean sheet as his Trabzonspor side beat Eyupsor 2-0. Onana made four saves in the match and completed his only run out. He was also good on the ball, completing 86% of his passing attempts. Ethan Ennis The winger helped his Fleetwood Town side to a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley. He completed 82% of his passes but failed to complete any of his seven cross attempts. Ennis did complete three out of his six dribble attempts and made one tackle. He was also tenacious in the midfield, winning six duels in the game. Dan Gore Gore played the entire 90 minutes of Rotherham United’s 1-0 away win over Barnsley. He completed 78% of his passes and had one shot in the match. Gore was strong defensively though, making four recoveries, three interceptions and winning six ground duels in a combative showing. Harry Amass The United wingback continued his fine growth in the Championship in spite of Sheffield Wednesday’s problems on and off the pitch. In their 1-2 loss to Oxford United he made one key pass and created one big chance for his side. He also completed 81% of his passes. Amass was also strong defensively, winning six ground duels and three aerial battles in a fiercely competitive encounter. Radek Vitek The Czech keeper kept another clean sheet as his Bristol City side defeated Birmingham City 1-0. He had a quiet afternoon as he didn’t need to make any saves but he did make two high claims and two punches. Vitek also completed one dribble attempt and ground duel during the game. Habeeb Ogunneye The fullback enjoyed a positive afternoon as Newport County beat Harrogate 3-0 away from home. Ogunneye made three tackles and had four clearances to his name. He also won five ground duels during the game. The youngster also impressed in attack, making two key passes and creating one big chance in the match. Ethan Williams Williams played 88 minutes of Falkirk’s 2-1 win over Dundee. The young winger created one big chance and had two key passes to his name. He also won both his tackle attempts in the match. Ethan Wheatley The young forward came off the bench for the last 23 minutes of Northampton Town’s 0-1 defeat to Luton Town. He had two shots on target in the game and both were classified as two big chances missed for his side. Wheatley only made one successful pass and lost his only duel but will feel he probably should have grabbed an equaliser for his team. Featured image Ahmad Moura via Getty Images – The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
“I demand…”: Amorim explains the reasoning behind surprising selection call vs Brighton which no fan expected
Manchester United overcame bogey side Brighton and Hove Albion 4-2 at Old Trafford in their Premier League game on Saturday. With the win, Ruben Amorim has notched three league wins on the trot for the first time, while the Red Devils have climbed to fourth in the Premier League table. It was far from easy, mainly due to referee Anthony Taylor trying to favour the Seagulls, but summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo did the job in front of a packed Theatre of Dreams. Prior to the game, the head coach dropped a huge bombshell by naming Tyrell Malacia on the bench. The Dutchman’s last appearance for the club came back in January. Tyrell Malacia back in the matchday squad After Amorim’s unsuccessful attempt at trying to convert the 26-year-old into a wingback, he was eventually sent out on loan to PSV Eindhoven. While the Dutch side won the Eredivisie, they refrained from signing the United player and as a result, he returned to Carrington. Tyrell Malacia was part of the infamous bomb squad that INEOS tried to shift, and despite offers from Spain and Turkey, no exit materialised. The left-back was subsequently included in the Premier League squad, and was even made to train with the U21s, wherein he impressed. Amorim has now cleared the air regarding the Netherlands international’s reintegration, claiming that the ex-Feyenoord ace has worked hard and impressed in training, hence the matchday call-up. “I love all my players,” the head coach told MUTV. “I demand the same thing from all the players. He is working really well, he adapted really well to our team. For me, there are no favourites. Amorim reveals why “If you work, you play for Manchester United. If you don’t, you need to work harder to get back on the pitch.” This is a reminder to all players on how to re-enter the Portuguese tactician’s good books. Whether the Erik ten Hag signing will make it onto the pitch in the coming games remains to be seen. He lacks the pace and attacking intensity to operate as a wingback, while he does not have the physicality and height to operate in the back three. With his contract up next summer, there is very little chance that he might stay for long. Even a January exit cannot be ruled out at this stage. Feature image Gareth Copley via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25


