Ruben Amorim, the head coach of Manchester United, is navigating a challenging season marked by unpredictable performances and rising concerns. Since taking the helm, Amorim has faced numerous hurdles, describing the current season as a "roller coaster." This sentiment was vividly illustrated in a recent match against Rangers, where Manchester United experienced both highs and lows in a single game. Despite allowing Rangers to score a late equaliser unexpectedly, Bruno Fernandes secured a 2-1 victory for United with a stoppage-time winner.
Amorim's tenure has been marred by setbacks, including what he speculated might be the worst team performance in the club's history following a fourth home defeat in five games against Brighton & Hove Albion. He expressed discontent with the notion of his team being labelled as such. However, the win over Rangers brought a moment of relief as fans chanted "Ruben Amorim's Red and White Army," signaling their support for the embattled coach.
The match against Rangers showcased Manchester United's offensive efforts with 16 shots, yet only resulted in an own goal and Fernandes’ decisive strike. Despite these challenges, Amorim displayed optimism, walking down the tunnel with a smile after the final whistle. However, he remained critical of his team's performance, acknowledging that they were better with the ball but lost control for seven crucial minutes.
"We didn't deserve that draw at the moment, and it was fair for us to win the game, a game we knew would be tough," said Amorim.
Throughout the match, goalkeeper Jack Butland played a pivotal role in securing the win. Philippe Clement, presumably Rangers' manager, acknowledged Butland's contributions, noting:
"Jack saved us a few times also in the second half."
He emphasized the nature of goalkeeping, stating:
"That is the life of a goalkeeper. I am not going to be focused solely on that."
Amorim reflected on his team's progress and areas needing improvement, stating:
"We are not playing our best, but we regrouped from the last game."
He highlighted the importance of being more decisive:
"I know the opponent is different. It wasn't as fast. You can see the connections. I think we need to be more clinical in the right moments because that can help us a lot."
The victory over Rangers provided some respite amid a challenging period for Amorim, who is also contending with interest from Napoli and Chelsea in Alejandro Garnacho. Keeping Garnacho at the club remains a priority for Amorim as he seeks to maintain stability within his squad.
Despite these efforts, Manchester United's defensive struggles persist, having failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 consecutive games. Amorim acknowledged this concern and stressed the need for improved concentration and performance consistency.
"In this moment, we started well, the pace of the game helped us because it's different, and you could feel it. We tried to do things, we were better with the ball, sometimes we controlled well in the beginning and then we lost control for seven minutes because of some bad passes, some transitions, but then I think we created the best chance to win the game, and we deserved to win."
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