Are Manchester United gaining momentum after beating Brighton 4-2?
After enduring challenges and uphill since arrival on English soil, Ruben Amorim has started to breathe sighs of relief following his team’s three consecutive wins.
The Manchester United coach refuses to get carried away about his team’s recent run of good results.
After being quizzed by the media over his team’s recent impressive form, Amorim pointed out in response “you said it.”
Let’s quickly take a look at United’s outings in last three weeks.
Amid speculations of Amorim being axed just three weeks ago, Manchester United played Sunderland─a team which just got promoted from the Championship, and with such a passion, they defeated Chelsea and placed comfortably among top-four teams,
Heading into the game, rumours of Amorim being dismissed as United boss was rebuffed by the club senior official following declaration of public support by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The Red Devils won the game which was common during the glory days under Sir Alax Ferguson. Last week again, United defeated Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 2016, but again, did defeat Brighton, who have cultivated that habit of beating United in recent years.
After several months of criticism and jibe, Amorim is gradually turning the screw and championing a success story.
After the final whistle was blown, United won 4-2 against Brighton and were fourth on the EPL log, with a goal difference. Similarly, a day as this has always been a tough one. It seems like the Red Devils have finally rediscovered their mojo.
Too Early To Celebrate ─ Amorim
“The team is playing so much better since we start this season compared to last,” he said.
“But you [journalist] said everything. It was three weeks ago. So, it can change in the next three weeks.”
Understanding In Man United Midfield Yielding Result ─ Carrick
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in stands at Old Trafford to witness United’s latest victory over Brighton. As the records have it, this is just the second time Manchester United have won matches in a row under Ruben Amorim.
Taking out the beginning of last season and the end of the season before, this is the first time United have won three league matches in a row since February last year under their former Dutch coach Erik ten Hag.
It was pure courage when Ratcliffe three weight behind Amorim and said that the Portuguese tactician needed three years to turn United’s abysmal period around. Many questions were asked following Ratcliffe’s public backing of the coach and one of those was “was he buying the former Sporting CP coach some time? However, overall assessment indicates that Jim Ratcliffe is not a fan of Amorim’s vision.
Reacting to improved results, Amorim offers a glimpse of a better future to the United fans.
“I never had that feeling of embarrassment, of what I was doing or not winning games ” he said.
“I always felt Jim believed and or not winning games, he said. I always felt Jim believed and knew what we were doing.
“It is more with the fans. Facing the fans is different in this moment.
“But I feel the urgency of not losing this moment. Everything in football can change in one week.”
The United’s coach words seemed wise. Still, there is no iota of what Manchester United delivered over the past three years.
After defeating Sunderland and Brighton before their home fans at the Old Trafford, they have been able to defeat two teams that have beaten Chelsea at home (Stamford Bridge) this season.
It is obvious that no football lover would rule Chelsea out of top-five spot at the end of current campaign, so why should anyone rule United out?
Why should Manchester United be different when they have Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, jointly signed in the summer at an overall cost of £130m, bringing a drive and purpose to their attack which did not exist before. Both scored in this latest win. Cunha for the first time this season. Mbeumo now has five.
Ruben Amorim was quick to commend both players on their impressive outing in different ways.
“Matheus feels more confident the harder the game,” said Amorim.
“He wants the responsibility. Today he defended really well and when he has the ball I have no concerns.
“He was struggling about not scoring goals, he can try to hide but I understood.
“Bryan is a working machine, he is so good in transitions and his connection with Amad [Diallo] is really good.
“When we felt this player wants to come here no matter what, whether we were in the Champions League or not, we do everything to bring him here.”
United have recorded three consecutive victories in the English Premier League for the first time since Amorim took charge. As the Portuguese may put it; his team now understands his system far better.
The only exception is the goalkeeper Sanne Lammens who seems not to fit the ‘system’ but Amorin does not seem to panic over the rest of his team-mates and the crowd as former United goalies Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir did before him.
It is quite understandable that the young Belgian goalkeeper will blunder, but he
looks generally solid and doesn’t give the aura of some looming mistakes when approaching the ball.
Brazilian midfield enforcer, Casemiro, scored one and provided another on the great night. He was named the captain of h=the Brazil national team by the current coach Carlo Ancelotti, having fallen out of United’s first eleven at some points.
“The other guys need to look at Casemiro,” said Amorim.
“In the beginning he was behind every midfielder even Toby [Collyer] but he fought and worked and is back in the national team and is so important for us. It shows football can change really fast.”
But it did not feel so positive at a time when United were dusted out of EFL Cup by Grimsby at Blundell Park in August, and the positivity United can hold bare is that they are not competing in any European competition this season which might just boost their morale during the current season.
They will be having a full week to prepare for the next EPL match, starting from next week with a trip to Nottingham Forest next Saturday and another fixture before heading to Tottenham a week later.
As Ruben Amorim noted, United must not relent and must utilise a such light fixture list judiciously.
There is still lots of work ahead if United really hope to turn the corner.