Every word from Ruben Amorim post match press conference Man ...

Sunday 15 December 2024 19:50

A delighted Ruben Amorim felt his Manchester United players had more belief in the second half of Sunday's derby victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Reds produced a stunning late comeback to come from behind to beat Pep Guardiola's champions as a Bruno Fernandes penalty and Amad's finish overcame Josko Gvardiol's first-half header. 

In his post-match press conference, Amorim fielded several questions from journalists about the omissions of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the matchday squad. 

The United head coach also praised the team's defensive performance and gave an update on Mason Mount, who was forced off after just 14 minutes through injury. 

Read every word of what Ruben had to say in the media briefing by scrolling down...

Congratulations Ruben. You needed two late goals but did you think, over the course of the 90 minutes, you deserved to win? 

“I think so, it’s hard to say now and I’m the coach of Manchester United. But I think we did a great job, we controlled Manchester City very well. We didn’t allow much, of course we don’t create so much either. But it was a divided game but I believe it was a lot different to Arsenal. We controlled the game against Arsenal in the first half but I didn’t feel that belief today I felt and I think that was the key point to change the game.”

How pleased were you with the way the team defended - particularly Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte?

“[Harry] Maguire is perfect when you play with the three defenders. I think in the middle [he] is perfect. Then the way that the striker that they have [Erling Haaland] with the long balls, you need to be really strong and so was perfect for him. Not just Harry, all the guys, defend really well. They were really focused and that is the key to play better. I think he did a great job and also his team-mates did a great job.”

You made a bold call leaving Marcus [Rashford] and Alejandro [Garnacho] out of the squad altogether. Can I ask why that was? 

“It is important to say why. It was not a disciplinary thing - next week, next game, new life. They are fighting for the places but for me it’s important for me the performance in training, the performance in game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with the team-mates, the way you push your team-mates. Everything is important in our context in the beginning of changing a lot of things, when people in our club are losing their jobs, we have to put the standards really high. For that, they have to fight for the place in the team and today the team proved that we can leave anyone outside the squad. You can manage to win if we play together.”

Just on that Ruben, your comments there suggest with Marcus and Alejandro that it was issues off the pitch, not necessarily performance related. Your predecessor Erik ten Hag dropped Marcus Rashford after he called in sick for training last season. What concerns do you have about Marcus's lifestyle off the pitch? 

“I’m going to say again, it was not a disciplinary thing. It was the small details. You can see the games like I see. There are some things that have to change but it’s a new life. It’s not a disciplinary thing, it’s the performance in training, the performance in games and then I have to choose players. Jonny Evans did everything right, he was at home and also [he] is very important for us. If it is a disciplinary, I will say it here [in the press conference] and it will be a bigger problem. It was not that. It was just that I want to improve my players and sometimes you see and you understand that for so long we try, for example, with Rashy [Rashford] a thing that doesn’t work. Let’s continue to do the same thing or try something different. So it’s simple as that. If they train well with the talent they have, we will be so much better with both of them [Rashford and Garnacho]. But they have to work hard, [what] they are trying to do. Today, they train really hard, so it’s a good thing. New week, new life, let’s see.”

How significant was it to win the game having made those big calls before the game and is it a different situation with Marcus and Alejandro or is it exactly the same? 

“It’s the same [with Rashford and Garnacho], it’s the same with Evans. We have to choose and then we see how many players we have in our squad, in this position and in the substitutions. Then the small details will make a difference. I know it’s strange but it’s just that. For me, it will be the same, for you guys [the media] this conversation will be really, really hard. Now it’s more soft but I understand that. But for me it’s a clear point, natural situation and, like I said, it was just for this game, let’s see the other games.”

What kind of statement do you think you've made by beating Manchester City in their own stadium? 

“I think, for the fans, it has a deep meaning, especially in this context, in this moment. But we had a difficult moment a week ago against Nottingham [Forest] at home with a storm. So it was a really tough moment after the game. Today, we are more happy but it’s three points. We have to continue. Here [in England] you don’t stop playing, next week you will have three games. It will change the way they see the team but today is a good day, let’s enjoy for 10 minutes and then think about the next game.”

You've talked about the character of the players and the standards they need to reach. In Amad, do you see someone who is a perfect example of that at the moment?

“I don’t want to talk about just Amad. A lot of players here are improving, are fighting, are working really hard, are suffering. That is a good thing when you suffer for something. Amad, of course, is in a great moment but I will say it again, Erik [ten Hag] brought Amad to the first team, Ruud [van Nistelrooy] did a great job and we continue with the good moment of Amad. Amad did a great job but now let’s be careful with Amad, don’t do the same mistakes that we did in the past with younger guys and let’s push him down a little bit, praise him, but the next game is a new story. He must continue to work hard.”

Do you have an update on Mason Mount?

“He stretched the leg in the one play and then he felt something. So let’s recover. Mount is really important for us, he’s the kind of player that I really like. He’s the kind of player our team needed because he’s talented, he works really hard, he’s really humble so we need him a lot.”

I don't know if you are aware but your team was in the public domain last night. I just wondered what you thought about that? 

“I know that story. I don’t know, I think it’s impossible to fix nowadays because you have a lot of people in the club, the players talk with agents. I don’t know, you can talk with friends, so it’s hard to know. It’s not a good thing but let’s move on and go to the next one and see if they find the next starting XI.”

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