Ruben Amorim's Manchester United: Are They Even Close to Where They Need to Be?
It's a harsh reality check: Despite the high hopes and investment, Ruben Amorim doesn't believe his Manchester United side is anywhere near the level they should be. This isn't just a casual observation; it's a stark assessment of a team struggling to find its footing. Amorim's words echo a sentiment of concern, a feeling that something is missing despite the efforts.
Rewind to Everton's previous visit to Old Trafford, and you'll remember Amorim's now-famous 'the storm is coming' statement. Fast forward twelve months, and his recent comments reveal a similar level of introspection about the team's progress. But here's where it gets controversial: after a 0-1 loss to Everton, Amorim's words of caution feel even more pertinent.
From a United perspective, the game was marked by a moment of intensity between Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane, which led to Everton playing with 10 men for 77 minutes. However, the result didn't reflect the advantage.
Amorim's pre-game view that his side is "far from perfection" was unfortunately accurate. For over an hour, the head coach watched his players struggle. He observed young defenders, Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro, making unforced errors, hindering the team's momentum. Amad Diallo's decision-making and the missed opportunities by Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes further highlighted the team's shortcomings. Even Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo, despite getting chances, couldn't seize the moment to push for more playing time. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens's questionable save attempt on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's effort sealed the fate.
Zirkzee did manage a header that forced Jordan Pickford into a save, but it wasn't enough.
Amorim's concerns are valid. He noted that their five-match unbeaten run could quickly turn into a three-game winless streak, with a trip to Crystal Palace looming. "We are not there, not even near the point we should be to fight for the best positions in the league," he stated. "We have a lot to do, and we need to be perfect to win games. We were not perfect today."
Let's recap United's recent games: They led against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham but failed to maintain their advantage, needing late equalizers to salvage points. In their match against Everton, a win would have placed them in fifth. If they had matched last season's result, they would have climbed to fourth. But the team lost, despite playing against 10 men at home for 77 minutes.
This loss was a rare occurrence. It was the first time Manchester United had lost a Premier League match at Old Trafford after the opposition received a red card, with 36 wins and 10 draws in the previous 46 instances.
Amorim's frustration is palpable. He mentioned, "Old Trafford was there saying 'we are all here to give a big step up' and I felt that we were not ready." He's been consistently expressing his concerns, even during periods of positive recognition.
The big question, a year after his first game, is 'how far away are they?' This is a United side without the distraction of European competitions, unlike Palace, who have less than three days before their Selhurst Park encounter. The club invested £250 million in the summer to improve a squad that finished an unthinkable 15th last season. Now, sitting 10th in the table, in a group of four clubs that includes Tottenham, Everton, and Liverpool, just three points off the top four, where are United headed?
When they finished eighth under Erik ten Hag, it was considered unacceptable. Amorim's response to the recent performance was "Frustration, disappointment." He added, "They were the better team. We deserved to lose. Twenty minutes in the game, red card for the opponent. We need to win this game no matter what."
Amorim even agreed with David Moyes, seeing the Gueye-Keane incident as a display of desire. He wants to see the same from his team, minus the red card. "Fighting is not a bad thing," he said. "Fighting is that you lose the ball and 'I will fight you because we will suffer a goal'. I hope my players, when they lose the ball, fight each other."
So, after a Manager of the Month award in October, November has seen regression. We still don't really know what this Manchester United team is. It feels like Amorim thinks the same way. What he cannot allow is the backward steps to take them right back to the meat of last season, when every game felt like a defeat waiting to happen. When he left for games worried about what he was about to witness.
"I feel afraid of returning of this feeling of last season," he said. "That is my biggest concern. We need to work together. We are going to work together. The players are trying, but we need to be better."
What do you think? Is Amorim being too harsh, or is his assessment accurate? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
