Manchester United's turbulent season continues as head coach Ruben Amorim faces mounting challenges since taking the reins from Erik ten Hag. Under Amorim, the team has lost six of their eleven league games, including a disappointing defeat against Brighton. The coach's unfiltered post-match comments, describing his squad as "maybe, the worst-ever" in the club's history, have sparked significant discussion. These remarks, made in the heat of the moment, reflect both the team's difficulties on the field and Amorim's own frustrations.
Amorim attributes many of Manchester United's struggles to their performance at home, where they have conceded the first goal in numerous matches. He believes that failing to score first leads to increased anxiety among the players, making it challenging to regain composure. This anxiety is particularly evident at Old Trafford, where United has suffered the most home league defeats in a season since 1893-94. Amorim's candid reflections indicate that he was speaking as much about his own challenges as those faced by his team.
"I also talked in the same response about I was not helping my players. And if you look around, every time I speak, and I speak a lot, every time you push about the players are not good enough, I never put the spot on my players." – Ruben Amorim
Amorim's tenure has been marked by just three victories in the league, a stark contrast to the expectations set for Manchester United. His comments following the Brighton loss were prompted by the team's sixth home defeat in twelve matches this season. Despite this, Amorim remains focused on improving the team's dynamics, particularly at home, where nerves have become a significant obstacle.
The coach acknowledges that his statements were intended more for himself, expressing frustration with his own role in the team's poor performance. Yet, he remains optimistic about future improvements, especially in terms of strategy and mental composure during home games.
"What I was saying is that you have to look really hard to find a team like Manchester United in 10 games that lose seven games. And that is on me. Because it's the same players doing worse with a new coach." – Ruben Amorim
The psychological aspect of playing at Old Trafford appears to weigh heavily on the players. Amorim notes that his team is "really nervous" when playing at home, affecting their overall performance. This nervousness contrasts with their away matches, where they seem more composed and confident.
"I think it's really clear. We are really anxious playing, especially at home." – Ruben Amorim
Amorim's forthright approach extends to his interactions with the media, where he openly discusses his frustrations and mistakes. He admits to sometimes being too blunt but emphasizes that he communicates similarly with his players in private.
"Sometimes it's really hard to hide the frustration in some moments. But the good thing is that I said the same things in a different way in the dressing room five minutes before. So the response was quite normal, because I'm really blunt with my players." – Ruben Amorim
Despite these challenges, Amorim remains committed to turning around Manchester United's fortunes. He believes that scoring first is crucial to changing game dynamics and improving home performances. As they prepare for their Europa League match against Rangers, Amorim is hopeful that his team will rise to the occasion.
"And they trained well, they are ready for this game and let's see tomorrow." – Ruben Amorim
Amorim's remarks have drawn attention from commentators across the football world. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labeled his comments about the team as "a joke," dismissing much of the current squad. However, Amorim insists that he was speaking more about himself than his players.
"I was talking more for myself than from my players, because you have to find out a coach that starts a job and loses seven games in the first 10. So it's more for me, I was talking more about me than the players" – Ruben Amorim
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