Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is under increasing pressure as his team continues to struggle for consistency in the Premier League. Ahead of their match against Crystal Palace, Amorim addressed the media, taking full responsibility for the team's shortcomings. "I admit I have no excuses for Man United's struggles," he stated, acknowledging the high expectations and the need for immediate improvement.
United's form has been erratic, marked by a lack of consistency both at home and on the road. While their home form has been somewhat better, they suffered a recent defeat against a 10-man Everton side. Their away form is a significant concern, with only one win this season, a narrow victory against Liverpool. Amorim admitted he struggles to pinpoint the exact reasons for their away woes. "It is hard to point at one thing why we are not winning away. There are a lot of issues that we are improving," he said.
Amorim highlighted the importance of controlling games and capitalizing on opportunities. He referenced matches against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, where they lost control despite having winnable positions. "The same things that we need to do to show to the players why we lost control of Forest, why we lost control against Tottenham. And if you look at those games, they were there to win. Sometimes a small detail can change everything," he explained.
The manager also addressed the team's intensity levels, noting a significant drop in the home game against Everton. "Then I felt this year when we play at home, the intensity is higher, and I felt in this game at home the intensity was not at the same level, so I think it is something that we need to work on," Amorim stated. He stressed the urgency of winning games, acknowledging the pressure that comes with managing a club like Manchester United. "We have to feel that urgency of winning games. We know what happens around the club if we do not win games," he added.
Tactical Flexibility and System Adaptations
Amorim has faced criticism for his perceived rigid adherence to the 3-4-2-1 formation. Despite enjoying success with this system at Sporting CP, its implementation at Manchester United has been less effective. However, Amorim insists he is willing to adapt and has already made adjustments in certain games. "We did it against Liverpool, it wasn't with Bryan Mbeumo, it was with [Matheus] Cunha," he noted, highlighting the fluidity he seeks to incorporate. He emphasized that modern football requires tactical flexibility, with teams frequently shifting between formations during matches.
Ahead of the Crystal Palace match, Amorim acknowledged the progress made by Oliver Glasner's side, who also employ a similar 3-4-3 formation. While dismissing direct comparisons, Amorim admitted that Palace are "doing things better than us". Glasner himself has defended Amorim's system, pointing out that United have a high expected goals (xG) rate in the Premier League. Glasner also noted the changes in United's team, particularly in attack, with significant investments made in new players.
Injury Concerns and Team News
Manchester United faces several injury concerns ahead of the Crystal Palace game. Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha are set to miss the match, while Harry Maguire is also sidelined. These absences add to Amorim's challenges as he seeks to find a winning formula.
Looking ahead, Amorim expressed optimism about strengthening the squad in the January transfer window. He also mentioned the need for another attacking wing-back, similar to Amad Diallo, to improve the team's system.
