Ruben: We saved a point but lost two

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim believes his side’s performance at the Vitality Stadium deserved more than the point that was salvaged with Rasmus Hojlund’s stoppage-time equaliser.

While conducting his post-match media duties after the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, the boss summarised United’s display as one that warranted something after going behind, but also one that probably merited all three points.

The Reds grew into the game after going down to Antoine Semenyo’s first-half goal and were the team on top for much of the second half, particularly after Evanilson’s 70th-minute red card.

Persistence finally paid off with Hojlund’s 96th-minute leveller, a talking point that Amorim also answered on at full-time, while speaking about Luke Shaw’s first start of the club season and Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg at Athletic Club too.

Read on for a round-up of the key quotes from Ruben’s interviews with BBC, MUTV, Sky Sports and several radio broadcasters after Sunday’s match… 

Amorim speaks to MUTV Video

Amorim speaks to MUTV

📹 REACTION| Ruben says were United unlucky not to earn all three points against the Cherries…

WE IMPROVED AS GAME WENT ON

“It was tough in the beginning, high intensity, pressure from the opponent. We had some difficulties there but then during the game we were improving. We had our opportunities, we didn’t score. But then in the second half especially, we had a sense of we push the opponent to their own half, we create situations, and we manage to save a point. But I think if you look at the game, I think we lost two points.”

IMPORTANT FOR HOJLUND TO SCORE

“It’s always important for a striker to score a goal, but it’s just one goal. So, Thursday we have a huge, massive game for us, so he needs to be fresh and ready to play and to score another.”

FRUSTRATED WITH GOAL WE CONCEDED

“Of course [I’m frustrated with the way it came about]. If you look at our last games, it’s always like that. Something that we [do to] help the opponent get the advantage and then it’s really hard to score goals. But we move on, they did a great effort to recover one point.”

NOTHING TO SAY ON RED CARD

“I never comment on referees, no matter if we draw, lose or win. You can see the path, I will try to be like that until the end, so I have nothing to say.”

WE CAN DO BETTER WITH EXTRA MAN

“We have the ability to push the opponent. I think we can do better, especially in some decisions. Who makes the cross? What kind of player is one-against-one outside?  And we need to understand these moments better. But if you look at that 20 minutes, 30 minutes, we had some situations to score. And that is really important.”

Ruben’s post-Bournemouth press conference Video

Ruben’s post-Bournemouth press conference

PRESS CONFERENCE | Our head coach was asked about Shaw, Mazraoui, Hojlund and more, following our draw v the Cherries…

SHAW WAS A THREAT FOR US

“It’s really important [that he got 90 minutes]. We need to be careful with his availability but today you could feel it, especially with the sending off, he was the guy that could overload that [left] side. He has quality in the final third, a good pass. So, we maintain Luke Shaw because of that.”

WILL HE START ON THURSDAY?

“It’s hard when you push 90 minutes from Luke Shaw. He will maybe be in the squad, maybe we will not start. We need to be careful with him.”

BOURNEMOUTH PRESS SIMILARLY TO ATHLETIC CLUB

“These teams are quite similar in the high pressure, the way they press, so it was a good game to prepare for one of the most important games in our season [against Athletic Club].”

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