Ruben Amorim scrambles for positives after 'really bad' Manchester United performance against Nottingham Forest
By Rhys Jones
Updated 07/12/2024 at 21:20 GMT
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Ruben Amorim suffered his first Old Trafford loss at the hands of Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest side, who beat The Red Devils 3-2 in Manchester on Saturday. Manchester United conceded yet another set-piece goal after letting in two against Arsenal during the week, and individual errors from the likes of Andre Onana contributed to their downfall.
'It will be a long journey' - Amorim says Man Utd 'need to improve in all aspects'
Video credit: SNTV
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has said his side are on a "long journey" after suffering a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
Forest condemned United to back-to-back defeats with goals from Nikola Milenkovic, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Chris Wood.
It was Amorim's first loss at Old Trafford and his side showed familiar flaws and new problems, with a litany of individual errors and poor set-piece defending resulting in a chaotic performance by the home side.
Milenkovic’s opener was the third goal from a corner that United conceded in 40 minutes of football, and several Forest chances from set-pieces following the goal mean Amorim has another area to fix.
"It was a tough game, we started the two halves really bad," Amorim said to Sky Sports. "It was hard to pass on some calm to the players and continue the game as we should do.
"We had not a lot of quality but a lot of heart. Suffering two goals after half-time in this context is really hard.
"We need more time to put positionings in – if you see the first goal was a good combination between the players – after the first goal we had good moments creating chances but we went forward without thinking.
"We have to address it and it’s a long journey. It’s a tough context but we have to understand this is a long journey and that’s what our jobs are."
Milenkovic opened the scoring for Forest in the second minute from a corner, and after conceding from two corners against Arsenal, Amorim's side will need to improve at defending dead-ball situations.
"We've suffered three goals in two games from set pieces, and a lot of problems in set pieces we have to improve. We have to do better in every aspect of the game to win matches," he added."
Bruno Fernandes had fired United back within a goal of Forest in the 62nd minute, latching onto a cutback from Amad Diallo.
He looked set to be the one to lead United on a comeback, only to be hauled off with 15 minutes left in the game as Amorim made a flurry of second-half substitutions.
When asked about the change, Amorim said that the United captain was "too tired" and he wanted Mason Mount on instead.
"Bruno was too tired and I wanted Mount to play that position of second midfielder who opens a bit on the left," Amorim explained.
"Josh [Zirkzee] plays with Rasmus [Hojllund] to have combinations, [Leny] Yoro goes off because we can't give him too many minutes.
"We put Harry Maguire on because of set pieces, to control more who was winning all the first balls, the only way to attack Nottingham was transition and long balls for winning first and second balls. When Harry was on the pitch he won all the first balls.
"Sometimes you want to attack or play better, but it doesn't mean that you have to put in just strikers, it's a combination of everybody."
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Amorim expected a tough start at United, and said that the defeat to Forest was "not a surprise."
"It’s not a surprise because we’ve come in the middle of a lot of games," he said." If you have experience in football you understand these moments, it’s really disappointing for the fans, it's really hard to see these types of games after so many disappointments.
"We are here to do the job and we will continue to do things the same. We are going to improve the team."
United are back in action on Thursday when they travel away to face FC Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Europa League, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Stream the 2024/25 Premier League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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