Manchester United fans left Old Trafford last Sunday feeling anything but festive after the side were trounced 3-0 for the second straight season against Bournemouth.
It marked back-to-back Premier League home defeats for the Red Devils on their home turf, which is remarkable given that their one away victory sandwiched between the results was an emphatic turnaround at the Etihad on derby day.
In truth, Ruben Amorim has something of a free pass until the end of the campaign. Not only was he called upon to steady the ship in November after a tumultuous start to the term, but he is also navigating a squad filled with Erik ten Hag’s chosen signings – and there’s plenty he’d have perhaps opted against if given the chance to veto at the time.
All he can do now is tackle the mammoth task at hand, initially by getting United out of the bottom half of the table, where they’ll spend Christmas Day for the first time in Premier League history. Testing his luck – like you can do when betting with Rockwin Casino – with frequent line-up changes may prove more detrimental in the coming weeks, as it has done in recent matches.
What Amorim had to say ahead of Wolves clash
Amorim addressed the media on Christmas Eve ahead of the Reds’ trip to Molineux on Boxing Day. Then, they’ll host Newcastle United in a late kick-off on December 30.
Q: You have talked about low points. You are 13th in the Premier League. It’s not all on you, obviously, but Bournemouth have a capacity stadium of 13,000, and they are now fifth. Why are Manchester United 13th in the Premier League? Real Madrid or Bayern Munich wouldn’t be 13th.
A: “It’s a difficult question to answer. We have to know that we don’t let this be normal. I understand that it’s a tough moment, and it’s on me. Since the first day that I arrived, it’s on me because I’m responsible for the team. So we cannot think about that. We just have to think about improving, to understand the context and not focus on what happened in the past. The present is this; what we have to do for the future is [make this] not happen again. If I knew, I will solve all of the problems of this club. I know what I’m going to do – that is so clear to me. That’s why I think I’m feeling, not relaxed because I’m really frustrated also like the fans. But I know what to do. We have to solve some problems step by step, finding answers for everything, but it’s a very difficult moment. We understand the fans, and we will fight that.”
Q: You have mentioned the fans several times and the anxiety. Are you happy with the support you are getting? Do you want anything else from the fans, or does it have to come from the players?
A: “Nothing [from the fans], it’s just from us. I cannot say better things about the fans. What I’m trying to say to the fans is that we understand. I understand as a coach. I understand the moment. I understand the frustration and the disappointment. I understand, and we will improve. It will take time. I said the same thing here [in the press conference] after Everton and people were talking about the top four. I know it’s going to be really tough, but I think it’s important for us, in this side, to say to the supporters that we understand, I understand. They are incredible, the support we have, we are doing a season that maybe we cannot see for long years, and we know that. The only way to face this is to prepare for the next game like we won, you can say that, and then go again and try to win a match. I know it’s just from us. They [the fans] need our help, not the other way around, they [the fans] are doing everything right.”
