Ruben Amorim led Manchester United to a thrilling win in his first match at Old Trafford.
The 39-year-old showed his relief when Rasmus Hojlund scored the first of his two goals, bringing the score to 1-1 at halftime. Amorim is under pressure as he tries to implement a new wing-back formation that the team hasn’t used recently. This change comes during a busy part of the season with many matches scheduled.
Before his debut, Amorim had only two full training sessions with the entire squad. He also had two more sessions leading up to the European match. He mentioned that he pushes players who do not start to train hard the next day, but he is unsure how effective this will be.
“I feel anxious because I don’t know what will happen,” he told TNT Sports. “We can’t control everything right now.” He admitted that he is still getting to know the players and that they haven’t had much time to work together.
Despite the challenges, Amorim was pleased with the team’s performance. They started strong with Alejandro Garnacho scoring in just 48 seconds. After falling behind with two quick goals, Hojlund’s two goals helped secure the win.
“We improved in many areas since the last game,” he said. “We controlled the tempo better and created more chances.” However, he felt they should have finished the game earlier, as they missed a few good opportunities in the second half.
Amorim emphasized that his wing-back strategy is not new, but it relies heavily on the player in the number nine position. This player must keep the defense busy and hold the ball until help arrives. He noted that Hojlund performed well, even if he was exhausted by the end of the match.
After the game, Amorim praised Hojlund but also pointed out areas for improvement. “He needs to work on his touches when he has the ball,” he said. “But he is crucial for our transitions and scored some important goals.”
The schedule is packed for Amorim, with only four days between matches until the end of the year. If the team advances in the Carabao Cup, they will have a busy January as well.
Despite the pressure, Amorim seems to be enjoying his time at United. Fans have already started singing songs for him, and he received a warm reception from the crowd. “It felt special because I came from Portugal, and many fans didn’t know me,” he said. “I hope to continue earning their support.”
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