Sofyan Amrabat reacted to Manchester United’s much-needed 2-1 win over Chelsea and voiced his support for Erik ten Hag after reports of dressing room unrest.
The Red Devils clinched all three points upon their return to Old Trafford as they looked to bounce back at the earliest opportunity from last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United.
Amrabat replaced youngster Kobbie Mainoo in the starting line-up and was one of a handful of changes made by the manager, and the shuffle certainly paid off as far as Ten Hag will be concerned.
It was perhaps the Moroccan’s best performance yet in a red shirt as he played a pivotal role in keeping Mauricio Pochettino’s £220 million midfield quiet across the night.
Game time has proven hard to come by for Amrabat, who joined on a season-long loan spell from Fiorentina on deadline day, and he has been limited to just five Premier League starts.
Amrabat’s post-match reaction
Speaking post-match to beIN Sports, he had his say on tonight’s affairs, as well as the term thus far: “Of course, I’m very happy [about the result]. It was, I think, a very good game for us. We played very good, attractive football, attacking football with a lot of pressing – I think this is the way that we want to play. We won the game so the only thing maybe, if you can say something, is that we had to score more goals, but we won so that’s the most important [thing].”
Regarding his time with United up to now, he said: “First of all, I don’t like to make excuses but for me, it was a little bit [of a] difficult start because I didn’t get a pre-season. Pre-season is very important. I started with an injury so I needed some time but you have no time, the team needed me. I think we had not a very good start to the season so yeah, it’s not easy. I think if you come to the Premier League – strongest league of the world – everybody needs time to adapt, but like I said, there is no time. I feel now every day, every week I’m getting stronger and better and adapting to the league, so I hope that I can help the team more and play every time better and better. I work very hard so I’m confident everything will be fine.”
Having played under Ten Hag previously in his career at Utrecht and now again, Amrabat was quick to voice his full backing and support to the manager.
“Erik ten Hag is a fantastic coach. Of course, I worked with him seven years ago so it’s a long time. Already in that moment he was a fantastic manager but now, he’s maybe one of the best in the world; he’s more experienced, he did a fantastic job everywhere he went – Ajax, here [United] in the first season. He’s a fantastic coach and we are all behind him.”
"He's one of the best in the world. He's a fantastic coach and we are all behind him."
Moroccan international Sofyan Amrabat quashes the rumours at Old Trafford after Man Utd's 2-1 win over Chelsea.#beINPL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/1YgktAsQoy
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 6, 2023
Footage courtesy of beIN Sports.
