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No regrets for Ruben

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April 13, 2025

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ManUtd.com reporter Adam Marshall at Old Trafford.

Sunday 13 April 2025 19:34

Ruben Amorim was keen to stress that all of Manchester United’s focus must be on Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final with Lyon.

The Reds head into the Old Trafford encounter all square at 2-2, after an entertaining first leg in France, and know the competition represents the chance to not only win a trophy despite the most difficult of seasons, but also to enter the 2025/26 Champions League.

The 4-1 defeat at Newcastle United was a chastening one, even if it was always going to be a physical examination against a side fresh from a clear week of inactivity who are famed for their powerful running and pressing.

After making five changes to his side, Amorim said he had no regrets about the selection, with one eye on Lyon, and was also asked about Altay Bayindir and Harry Amass, who both started at St James’ Park.

See what he told journalists at the ground, following the final whistle…

You worked so hard to get back into the game at the end of the first half but then the second half seemed completely detached from the first?

“When we suffered the second goal, at the beginning of the second half, we went down. We need to be better in these moments. We need to control it. They are already a really, really good team but then, with the mistakes we made, we helped give the opponents confidence to win the game.”

It was a tough day for Altay Bayindir, as he let in four goals and the fourth one was down to him…

“What I say is I continue to do the same. We are going to analyse the game but we need to focus on the next one. We cannot change this one. The next one is massive for us. Let’s focus on the next one, to play better and win the game.”

You made a lot of changes and it must have been a calculated risk so do you have any regrets?

“No, nothing. Nothing because we did mistakes and they were better. Even if we put a different XI, I don’t know the result. But then we had to make choices as we played three days ago. So you can see with Josh, he was fresh but had some problem. So, sometimes, we need to make choices and then we don’t know the result, even with a different XI.”

Did you start prioritising Thursday with the three substitutions, when ZIrkzee went off?

“Yes, I was waiting for 60 minutes, more or less, but then with Josh, I was a little bit, not afraid, but trying to avoid any more [injuries].”

What is the goalkeeping situation – will Andre Onana be back in consideration against Lyon?

“You guys have to wait. We are going to start the next week tomorrow and then I’m going to choose the best starting XI for the next one.”

Amorim rues mistakes at Newcastle Video

Amorim rues mistakes at Newcastle

INTERVIEW | Ruben reflects on Sunday’s match before switching focus to a huge European night…

United are guaranteed to have the lowest points in a Premier League season so how do you go from here? You said last Wednesday about having one more second on the ball in the Europa League and it’s a different game but Newcastle made sure you didn’t have a second, so how do you build from here?

“The first part of the question is a reflection of our season. We have to accept that we need improvement to move forward, and to try to do things so much better in the future, so we don’t have the same kind of season. You can see some of the goals, that they were down to pressure, and you lose possession in some moments and some spaces that we cannot lose possession. We have to improve a lot of things but our position is a reflection of our season. One hundred per cent.”

Can you take any positives after a result like that, as, at times, some of the football looked better as you put together some decent moves?

“It’s really difficult to look at the best things. The best thing is to focus on the next one. Analyse this one but it’s really hard to be here, after this result, to try to see it. Maybe, in a few days, I will watch the game and try to take that but it’s really hard in this moment to have any good feeling about the game.”

What did you think about Harry Amass’s performance, on his first start?

“I think he did quite well. He could catch a player that is really fast. He made his debut in one of the hardest stadiums, with one team that is really in a good moment. I think he did really well so he needs to continue. We need to help all these kids to perform in a higher level.”

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TOONE’S LEADERSHIP

“I always ask the team, ‘what would you say, if you were me’, and Ella looked like she had something to say. She just said that we are a family and that is the difference between us and other teams, is that when it gets dark, we are together. I think not only does she love this club – that it is her club – but it’s the growth she’s made as a leader, we’re seeing those leadership traits on the field and she’s only going to get better at that.”

DEFENSIVE QUALITIES APLENTY

“There were moments in the game at the Etihad where we let them back into it but there was none of that today. It was pure control. I felt that the defensive line was fantastic. Millie Turner, Maya [Le Tiisier] – epic – Gabby [George] got in a couple of challenges late, but then the defensive cover from Teri [Elisabeth Terland] today. I know we’re going to talk about her goals, but the work she does for the team is the reason you get results – she was hurting, and she’s still running.”

PHALLON’S HEROICS

“Her reaction at the end was ‘That’s just my job’ – that humility is exactly what keeps her as being one of the world’s best and will get her to being the world’s best goalkeeper because she’s humble, she’s hard working. Those two saves are incredible. I’ve not seen them back but they’re incredible, I know the feeling of them. I love that about my team, I love the fact that they work for our fans. It gives me a real boost because it’s not just about the results, that’s part of the process but it’s building that spirit and that’s a huge trophy for me, mentally.”

CHELSEA TO COME

“I want to see us attack it, or see us be aggressive in it, and I believe if we do that with our special spirit we can beat anyone. So they’re there to fear if you want to fear them, of course they have great talent, Sonia [Bompastor] is a great manager. If we give it our very best, with the fan base that we have as well – we’ll make it loud. Hopefully we’ll show our learnings and change the result.”

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BIG BLOCK TO COME

“I think we’re looking ahead with excitement not fear. That’s really important. West Ham have been fantastic, that’s a great challenge for us and not only have we got Wembley to aim for but the Champions League places as well, so I’m really clear on this, we have to take it game by game.”

The Portugal international spoke candidly following the game, recognising the unbreakable support throughout the season and asserting that Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford is a chance to repay the fans’ commitment, in the wake of a tough afternoon on Tyneside.

“It’s a bad defeat,” he told MUTV. “I think in the first half, it was a very good first half from ourselves, second half we didn’t play as much as we should and as we could. We did some mistakes trying to play out.

“It’s big [the Lyon game now] because we’re going to play in front of our fans,” the skipper said in another post-match interview with Sky Sports. “And being in the position we are, they’re being so supportive of us today, again, and in the game.

“They were all there, waiting for us to try to cheer us up, to try to make [us] understand that they will be there for us on Thursday, and I’m pretty sure they will be there.”

High in the St James’ Park stands, our fans could indeed be heard until chanting for their team until the very end of the game, and it’s moments like those that makes the captain determined to turn things around against Les Gones.

“They’ve been there all season, through all the bad moments,” Fernandes continued with Sky. “And it’s time for us to understand that we need to give something back.

“The Europa League, it’s a chance now to get into the semi-final. This team will be putting everything out, as we always do, even if the results are not always on our side, we always do.

“It’s difficult for everyone when you are in these kinds of positions, because they want so much to give to the club, they want so much to win with this club, because they know how much they will be remembered if they win something with this club.”

The 30-year-old was then asked whether his fellow Reds have the character to bounce back from a result like Sunday’s against Newcastle. There wasn’t a twitch of doubt from Fernandes.

“I don’t need to believe,” he said. “I need to see what we’ve done in the past and, in tough moments, we have come out and done a great performance again, against the biggest clubs.

“[It is] probably where we play our best football, in decisive games where everyone is watching, and this is going to be one against Lyon: big team in France, big team with a lot of history in European competitions.

“But we are Man United, so we have to step up. We have to do everything we can to win the game, and I’m pretty sure that my team-mates and myself, together with all the staff, together with all the fans and the club.

“We’ll be together to win that game.”

Most of Newcastle’s goals came about through some pitiful defending from United. For their opener, Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro failed to get tight enough to Alexander Isak, who was afforded the time and space to dink the ball over the pair and into the path of Tonali, who didn’t need a second invitation to smash in home.

The second saw Tino Livramento easily get past Diogo Dalot before he delivered a low cross inside the box to Jacob Murphy. The Newcastle forward cut it back to Barnes, who sent the ball into the back of the net. For their third, Barnes capitalised on a huge error from Noussair Mazraoui and broke through on goal before beating Altay Bayindir.

Finally, the hosts’ fourth goal of the game was as a result of Bayindir’s poor pass that was intercepted by Joelinton and finished off by Guimaraes.

After the final whistle, Amorim spoke to Premier League productions and raged at the defensive lapses that dearly cost the Red Devils.

Amorim said [as quoted by BBC], “Many mistakes. Newcastle were stronger in second balls. We did a lot of mistakes that made it harder to win a game. That’s all.”

He added about the loss, “It’s a little bit of everything. It’s hard to point to one thing. It’s really hard to win against these top teams like Newcastle. When we make mistakes to help the opponent, it’s even harder. Let’s focus on Thursday.”

On the defensive errors, he further stated, “I think you can see that we can do so much better. That’s it. Let’s focus on Thursday. All the mistakes we did today we cannot do Thursday.”

Amorim explained that he will not let criticism from outside affect him or the team.

“I understand but I don’t care. Nothing is worse than losing games. People can say whatever they want to say. I don’t want to defend myself or anything like that.”

“If you look at our position in the table, it says it all. Thursday is really important. Losing games is the hardest part by far of this job. Let’s focus on Thursday.”

Ahead of Thursday’s crucial Europa League meeting with Lyon, Amorim remarked, “Of course it’s really important. We have a chance to get Champions League. It’s an important game. It will be really hard.”

“We have to focus on that and get to the next stage. We have a season a lot like that with difficult losses. We are used to getting up. Let’s do that Thursday. It’s a different game. We need to give something to our fans and to go to the next stage.”

United’s defeat at St James’ Park has seen them drop to 14th in the Premier League table, sitting just below Everton on goal difference.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Derick Kinoti

Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

Four things we learned as Man United were trampled into dust by Newcastle

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April 13, 2025

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Four things we learned as Man United were trampled into dust by Newcastle

Manchester United fell to a 4-1 mauling at Newcastle United, who trampled Ruben Amorim’s men into dust in a second-half demolition job. The Red Devils went behind but managed to pull one back to go in at half-time with honours even, but things fell apart badly after the restart.

Here are four things we learned from the disappointing display.

Return of the feel-bad factor

United’s first-half showing was entirely acceptable and at times actively impressive. The sense of modest progress under Ruben Amorim was there, it was heartening to see Alejandro Garnacho back on the scoresheet to bag an equaliser and Altay Bayindir looked comfortable in goal. Fantastic.

But within five minutes of the restart the Red Devils were behind again and this time for good – the sort of limp, toothless performance we thought we’d seen the last of saw to that. Newcastle were excellent, but United were desperately poor and there’s no obvious reason for it.

Perhaps Europa League hyperfocus is to blame, with the late equaliser conceded against Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday night a psychological blow going into the second leg of the quarter-final. Perhaps the Newcastle game never really registered as a game at all.

If United’s players felt the need to go through the motions and while away 90 minutes on Sunday evening before having a second pop at the French side, St James’ Park is the last place to try and do it. But whether they meant to or not, they did try and do it, and they got the terrible result it deserved. Now Amorim must pick his players up ahead of Thursday night.

Carry On Goalkeeping

Dropping Andre Onana after his latest clanger on Thursday night, and associated comments in the media, was a huge call by the manager and one which most fans would have backed entirely.

Bayindir was picked for his first Premier League start for United and for much of the game looked confident and capable. His distribution was precise, and it felt like there was a burden lifted from the defenders playing out from the back, as if Onana’s troubles had been affecting them and were now gone.

But the Turkish goalkeeper – a hero for his penalty-saving antics against Arsenal in the FA Cup – dropped a clanger of his own to put paid to any confidence he might have built, and any which anyone had in the state of United’s options between the sticks.

It’s not the first time the 26-year-old has chucked one in in his short time with the club, and while anyone can make a mistake the nature of today’s – rolling the ball straight to an onrushing Newcastle attacker instead of any of his own men – underlined the fact that in reality, United don’t seem to have a goalkeeper remotely close to the standard they need. Until a rule comes in earning you points for comedy, they need to find someone new and quickly.

Manuel labours

Trouble is brewing in the United engine room again, and this time it’s not to do with Casemiro’s age. The Brazilian was on the bench for the Newcastle game but Manuel Ugarte, his frequent partner in the pivot, played the full 90 minutes and illustrated time and again that he is far from the complete midfielder.

The boisterous Uruguayan was typically tough and endlessly energetic, but his limitations on the ball are becoming difficult to ignore. United have known all along that Ugarte was never going to ease the creative burden shouldered by Bruno Fernandes, but the basic “win ball make easy pass” formula that should be drilled into his subconscious by now seems to have developed a fault.

At times today the 24-year-old’s dedication to the simple option killed United’s momentum stone dead at a time when they have very little of the stuff to spare, and when a positive pass seemed to be available and straightforward.

Ugarte is a valuable asset for a team which has long been in desperate need of legs in the midfield, but today was a reminder of the uncomfortable truth that he could hinder progress as much as he helps it.

A smattering of stardust

There are a million and one things which can – and probably will – derail it, but for one scintillating moment everything aligned for United today and gave fans a moment of pure enjoyment. One entirely their own, and not provided by Gianluigi Donnarumma at Anfield.

Out of nowhere, captain Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee channelled the footballing telepathy of prime Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, passing and moving their way into the box before the Dutchman had a shot well saved. It was over in seconds and didn’t yield a goal, but was a tantalising taste of what could be.

There is no point pretending Zirkzee is a number 9 anymore and with his confidence at a high point in his Old Trafford career he finally looks to be a proper player in one of Amorim’s two number 10 positions. Fernandes is also playing on air at the moment, comfortably too good for the team in which he finds himself, and having these two creative, off-the-wall playmakers operating in tandem has to become a priority.

Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images

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.

100% aerial duels lost: Amorim should do away with United dud who was an embarrassment in humiliating loss to Newcastle

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April 13, 2025

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100% aerial duels lost: Amorim should do away with United dud who was an embarrassment in humiliating loss to Newcastle

Manchester United suffered a devastating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday.

Alejandro Garnacho cancelled out a Sandro Tonali opener to ensure the two sides went down the tunnel with the score level.

Newcastle came out firing in the second half and Harvey Barnes struck twice before an Altay Bayndir mistake allowed Bruno Guimaraes a late fourth to pile further misery on the visitors.

The result has seen United drop down to 14th position in the Premier League, behind 13th-placed Everton on goal difference. This will now be statistically the Red Devils’ worst-ever Premier League campaign in terms of points tally.

Several United players simply didn’t turn up and especially in the defensive department, where multiple errors were made.

Victor Lindelof falls firmly in this category. With Harry Maguire dropping to the bench, Lindelof was given the nod to start at the heart of United’s three-man defence but he failed to deliver.

He was especially poor for Newcastle’s opener, failing to get tight enough to Alexander Isak, who had the time and space to dink the ball into the path of Tonali, who smashed a ferocious finish past Bayindir.

During the time he was on the pitch, Lindelof made four clearances and one interception. He put in just one tackle.

The Swede won just one of the two ground duels he contested. He was poor aerially, losing all four aerial challenges that he vied for.

He touched the ball 46 times and found his teammates with 36 of the 38 passes he attempted (95% pass accuracy). Lindelof failed to produce even one block.

(Stats obtained from Sofascore)

It’s well-known that Lindelof is on his way out of the club, with his contract set to expire this summer. He certainly played like a man fully aware his time at Old Trafford is about to come to an end.

Hopefully, moving forward, Ruben Amorim will put faith in players who are guaranteed to stay at the club beyond the summer transfer window. United are back in action on Thursday whenthey host Lyon for the return leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Derick Kinoti

Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

Newcastle exposed United’s lack of physicality and poor recruitment under Erik ten Hag, Amorim has a mountain to climb

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April 13, 2025

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Newcastle exposed United’s lack of physicality and poor recruitment under Erik ten Hag, Amorim has a mountain to climb

Ruben Amorim made quite a few changes for Manchester United’s Premier League game against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday but they hardly paid off as the hosts ran out comfortable 4-1 winners.

All the pre-match talk was surrounding Andre Onana being dropped from the matchday squad and replacement Altay Bayindir had the chance to cement his place in the starting lineup ahead of the crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg.

But the Turk was equally bad, as his woeful passing allowed the Magpies to score their fourth. Two goalkeepers, and neither can perform for the club and yet the club paid big money to sign them. Playing for the club has been way too easy recently.

The goalkeeper was not the only poor player with the entire defence at sixes and sevens for the entire game, committing far too many errors throughout the game.

Leny Yoro was uncharacteristically poor while Victor Lindelof was poor and it is no surprise that he will be leaving once his contract expires in the summer. Noussair Mazraoui’s slip allowed Harvey Barnes to score his second and Newcastle’s third.

Defensive errors galore

But the most concerning display came from the midfielders — Manuel Ugarte and Christian Eriksen. Both do not have the pace to deal with the home side’s relentless pressing while the Uruguayan’s passing was very poor.

He was showing signs of slowly coming to grips with playing for the Red Devils but his form has nosedived since the international break.

Very conservative in his passing whenever he had the ball, it was his mis-pass which allowed Newcastle to open the scoring.

He was also having to cover way too much space due to the Dane’s presence beside him. The lack of physicality in the team was exposed time and again by the Magpies. Eriksen starting in an away game shows the lack of options at the coach’s disposal.

Eriksen simply cannot run, which is why he is set to leave once his contract expires but the fact that United’s midfield options consist of two 33-year-olds (Casemiro being the other), and one weak passer in Ugarte shows how poor the recruitment has been over the years.

Poor recruitment

The 20-time English league champions had spent £615 million under Erik ten Hag to build a team who can only counter-attack with the physical floor of the team well below the league’s top sides.

The Newcastle players were swarming all over United for the entire 90+ minutes, winning almost every second ball while easily outrunning the visiting side. And that simply cannot happen.

Things got worse for the visitors when Joshua Zirkzee had to be subbed off after what seemed like a hamstring injury. Now, the head coach only has Rasmus Hojlund to call upon for the game against Olympique Lyonnais.

The league season has been a write-off for a long time now but Amorim has a mountain to climb if the next season is to be any better especially if the club falters in their quest to qualify for the Champions League.

The Portuguese tactician needs to revamp almost every area of the pitch and how INEOS deal with that will decide in which direction the club will travel next season.

Feature image George Wood via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Ayantan Chowdhury

Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25

Amorim supplies Zirkzee injury update

ManUtd.com

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April 13, 2025

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ManUtd.com reporter Adam Marshall at Old Trafford.

Sunday 13 April 2025 19:17

Joshua Zirkzee looks set to miss Manchester United’s crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg with Lyon on Thursday.

The Dutch striker was performing well at St James’ Park and was close to scoring what would have been a sensational goal in the first half, when he was denied by Nick Pope’s save.

However, after a sustained dribble in the Magpies’ half, he pulled up sharply, clutching at his hamstring and it was clear he needed to instantly be replaced.

As he was helped off the field, Zirkzee was shown sympathy by a couple of Newcastle players, and he looked understandably upset as he left the field.

During his post-match interview with MUTV, Amorim admitted the picture does not look good for Joshua, with the problem coming at the worst possible time.

“We had to make rotation because we are trying to recover in two days from each game,” he said. “But trying to win this game also.

“Josh, I think he will be out for some games. So, let’s focus on the next one [against Lyon].”

With teenager Chido Obi ineligible for Europe, Rasmus Hojlund could be the only striker available to select in the squad.

The Denmark international did manage a couple of efforts when coming off the bench on Tyneside, and has a good record in this season’s competition.

M

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