Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has suggested that a lack of effort in some games is the root cause of the club’s woes, as he passionately defended his system and tactical approach.
United have endured a difficult start to the season, losing half their games and mustering a measly seven points from six games. The Red Devils are currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table.
Following last week’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford, Amorim’s future has been the subject of intense speculation all week, amidst growing calls for him to alter his method.
Amorim has repeatedly insisted he will not abandon his preferred 3-4-2-1 setup, once remarking that United would need to sack him before he even considered it. He later quipped that not even the Pope could persuade him to change.
Ahead of Saturday’s must-win meeting with Sunderland at Old Trafford, Amorim has once again defended his ways, stressing that it’s not the reason behind United’s struggles. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he hinted that the team’s struggles may stem from not giving maximum effort in every match.
He said, “It was [disjointed against Brentford], but you cannot say one thing doesn’t work, when it works one weekend. When things work one day and the other doesn’t.”
“It is something about the way we do the same thing. We need to do the same thing, in the same way, every way, and we are not doing it the same every day.”
“Some of you guys have a different opinion, but that’s ok.”
Asked about criticism from ex-United players including Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney, Amorim answered, “It’s normal, we cannot run away from the results. And then you have the baggage from last season. Last season doesn’t matter to me, in relation to the system we have already spoke about that.”
“We had six games this season and we have lost three. And if we lost against Arsenal because of the system? It’s your job to make the opinions. When you saw the game against City, was the first think that you thought when the game started was the system?”
“I don’t think you thought about the system in that moment. And Brentford. The way we concede goals, create chances, that is nothing to do with the system, that is my opinion. I’m not saying this team will do better in a different system, that’s not my point.”
“My point is if I look at the games we didn’t win, the most important thing when I watched the game is not we lost because of the system. That is my opinion, then people have different opinions and that’s ok.”
On giving belief to supporters, Amorim remarked, “It is not the time to say, it is time to show. I can look at the games this season, for me they are completely different, there are some things the same, some different. There are other things we cannot change.”
“In the other games we are not the same team in some details. I have nothing to say in this moment. My job is to prepare the team.”
On his team’s incosistency, Amorim explained, “We already talk about that, if you see during the six games during this season we are not always the same team in small things. More in the way we play. All the effort that we put, the maximum effort into every single thing.”
“I think it’s not the same in different matches. We have to find that balance – it will change everything for us.”
He added that United will honour the victims of the Manchester synagogue attack with a pre-match tribute.
“Crazy world that we are living in at the moment. A lot of these things are happening. Of course, our sympathy for the victims. And we will pay tribute tomorrow. It’s a crazy world in this moment.”
United vs. Sunderland kicks off at 3pm.
Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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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!
