Ruben Amorim has moved to clarify his comments following Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat by Brighton, in which he described his side as ‘probably the worst’ in the club’s history.
Amorim’s comments came after he saw them slump to a sixth league home defeat in 12 this season, and his focus was largely on the collective rather than the individuals.
A defeat that leaves United 13th in the Premier League table has left United fans wondering how long it might take them to see the benefits of the system Amorim is trying to install with United’s players still seem deeply insecure in some areas.
Amorim said before the game against Liverpool earlier this month that his players were playing with fear. A 2-2 draw at Anfield and the subsequent penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the FA Cup should have boosted confidence.
Instead, Amorim said his players were still “really nervous” as Brighton secured a third successive win in as many seasons at Old Trafford, days after an unconvincing home win over Southampton.
Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League meeting at home to Rangers, the Portuguese has tried to address his words following the Seagulls’ failure.
“First of all, I want to talk about this (his comment about Manchester United possibly being the worst team ever in the club’s history),” he began.
“I was talking more about myself than my players because you have to find a manager who starts a job and loses seven games in the first 10. So it’s more about me, I was talking more about me than the players.
“I also spoke in the same answer that I was not helping my players. And if you look around, every time I talk, and I talk a lot, every time you push for the players are not good enough, I never put the place. To my players, well, I see, I gave you that title.
“And I get frustrated sometimes. And sometimes I shouldn’t say it in those terms, but it is what it is. And that’s it.
“Sometimes it’s really hard to hide the disappointment in some moments. But the good thing is that I said the same things in a different way in the dressing room five minutes ago. So the response was quite normal, because I’m really open with my players.
“And they trained well, they are ready for this game and let’s see tomorrow.”
Amorim: I’m really blunt – we’re performing very poorly
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Kris Boyd believes Rangers will still face a tough challenge against Manchester United despite Amorim’s side’s recent struggles.
United have won just three of their 11 league games since Amorim took over as the sacked Erik ten Hag’s successor, losing six of them.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher dismissed most of United’s current squad as a “joke” but insisted Amorim’s comments could land him in trouble.
Speaking in monday night football Carragher said: “I’ve got no time for this Manchester United team. I don’t feel for the players or their belief – half of them are a joke anyway.
“But I’d be very surprised if the powers that be didn’t have a very strong word. You don’t talk like that as a Manchester United manager … when you’re in a really bad situation, you don’t throw gas on fire.”
So were the comments designed to shock his players into life?
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Amorim passionately explains that he is not nervous, but frustrated with Manchester United’s recent struggles
“I didn’t think so,” replied an apologetic Amorim on Wednesday. “I’m a young guy and sometimes I can make mistakes, that’s why I don’t like to talk after the game.
“I had to speak and maybe it was a mistake. And then I get more nervous and go to the conference really nervous. And then you said things you shouldn’t say.
“And that’s it. Sometimes you’re a young guy and you make mistakes. And you get better. I can’t promise I won’t do it again. I don’t know. So I’ll try to get better.”
Amorim insists it is a collective responsibility to turn around the poor start to his tenure.
“I’m not taking responsibility from the players,” he continued. “What I’m saying is that the message that you guys showed was that I was putting it on the players.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Jamie Carragher questions the thinking behind Amorim’s comments and what he can do for confidence and belief for the rest of the season
“What I was saying is you have to look hard to find a team like Manchester United in 10 games losing seven games. And that’s down to me. Because the same players do worse with a new manager.
“That’s my only concern at the moment. But I am not getting anything from the players. What I am saying is that we need to improve in detail and I explained that.
“The way we play, we’re very nervous with the ball. Very nervous, really anxious. And then, if you have a little experience in this game, when you fall into this kind of context, it’s really difficult to step up. .
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sam Blitz looks at whether Amorim was right when he said the current Manchester United squad is possibly the worst ever in the club’s history.
“Especially when you’re at a massive club. So that was my only point. Was it the best point to do it after that loss, the way I do it?
“Maybe not, but it is what it is. And I’m like that all the time. So I’m not taking responsibility from the players.
“I’m saying, I’m really, really straightforward about things. I’m saying at the moment, we’re performing really badly. And our results are really bad at the moment.
“So it’s everything, everything together. The players, the staff, the technical staff. So I’m taking responsibility.
I’m just saying that I am the most responsible for the performance and results, because I am the coach and I have this responsibility”.
Amorim: It’s getting harder to play at Old Trafford
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Amorim insists he will not change and his side need time, despite two wins in their last 10 Premier League games.
The defeat to Brighton was United’s sixth at Old Trafford this season, surprisingly the most in their opening 12 league games at home since 1893-94.
United were relegated on that occasion after finishing bottom of the First Division, one of the few seasons which means their current squad is not – at least statistically – the worst in their entire history.
Amorim believes his side are particularly suffering now when playing in front of their own fans at Old Trafford.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Anton Toloui and Adam Bate discuss Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton and whether Amorim is asking for more trouble by not changing his approach despite their poor form.
“I think it’s clear. I can say different things and say, no, no, it’s the same. We have the support of the fans. No, we’re more nervous playing at home than away because we’ve lost a lot of games , like four games out of five.
“So it’s getting harder. But we can get better. I think if we don’t concede the first goal, like in the fourth minute, and I remember, it’s the fourth minute, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and then it’s really hard to calm down under the team.
“So the first thing in my mind is that they can’t score. We must mark the first. If we score the first one, I think that will change and we will play better at home in the beginning.
“So that’s all. I think it’s really clear. We’re really worried playing, especially at home.
“And we’re conceding goals and then it’s really difficult. So I think it’s clear to everyone that it’s getting harder to play at Old Trafford.”
Maguire: Accepting first means not being mentally focused
Amorim sat alongside former captain Harry Maguire at Wednesday’s press conference ahead of the Europa League clash with Rangers.
Maguire said he had no complaints about his manager’s approach and said it was up to the squad to take responsibility for United’s situation.
There is no shortage of experience or caliber in United’s squad, but it is not showing in a team struggling to adapt to Amorim’s system.
There was a sense that they were making progress after a 2-2 draw against Liverpool and FA Cup penalty win against Arsenal, but that has largely disappeared after a poor display at home to Southampton – saved by a late hat-trick by Amad Diallo. – cheating – before the defeat to Brighton.
“If I could explain it, I think we’ll change it straight away,” Maguire said of United’s problems. “We have players who have played many international matches, won many trophies in club football.
“But at the moment we are not playing well enough as a team and the league table shows that. So I can only go on with that. We have to take responsibility as players.”
But in particular, when discussing why United have conceded the first goal so often at home, the 31-year-old said: “You have to go into the game and be focused and mentally ready to go and win a game of football.
“Football games are sometimes decided by small margins and at the moment we’re not getting those small margins because we’re not mentally focused enough to make sure they go our way.”
