- Ruben Amorim stressed that United's home clash with bottom-placed Southampton will demand tactical adjustments and more commitment from players
- Amorim insists that Manchester United players must replicate the intensity shown against top teams like Liverpool
- The manager admitted that the team’s struggles are unsurprising, but he remains optimistic about the rebuilding process under his guidance
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United’s manager, emphasised the importance of the upcoming Premier League clash against Southampton, describing it as a more critical encounter than recent high-profile matches with Arsenal and Liverpool.
Speaking in an interview, the Portuguese tactician stated the significance of maintaining commitment and attitude as his side faces the league's bottom-placed team on Thursday, January 16.
Amorim’s men recently secured a morale-boosting 2-2 draw against league leaders Liverpool at Anfield before progressing to the FA Cup fourth round by defeating Arsenal on penalties. These results offered a glimmer of hope following a dismal run of four consecutive losses across competitions. Despite the positive turn of events, Amorim believes that the Southampton game holds greater importance,
"For me, it’s more important, we will learn more about our players in this game than in the last two. It’s a really, really important match for me and the club."
The former Sporting CP manager stressed the need for his players to bring the same intensity they displayed against Liverpool and Arsenal. However, he acknowledged that playing against a struggling side like Southampton would demand a different tactical approach,
"I know that playing at home, the environment will be different, the fans will expect a certain style of play, and the space we need to defend will be bigger. This game will be different, but the commitment must remain the same. That’s the most important thing for me," Amorim explained.
Since taking charge on November 1, Amorim has faced significant challenges in stabilising the club. United currently languishes in 14th place on the Premier League table, far from the Champions League qualifying spots. Amorim admitted that these struggles did not surprise him, given the state of the team upon his arrival,
"The process here is similar to my experience at my former club, while the league, players, and pressure are different, the steps to rebuild are the same. You can’t control results, but so far, everything has gone as I expected."
The manager maintained that calmness and consistency are key to turning the tide, but he conceded that commitment alone would not be enough,
"We need to play a different type of football, and I believe we can deliver that in the future," Amorim concluded.
As Manchester United prepares to host Southampton this night, all eyes will be on Amorim and his players to see if they can take a step toward redemption.
Rashford labours in vain as Amorim’s men struggle in manager’s first game
Previously, TheRadar reported that Ruben Amorim’s much-anticipated tenure as Manchester United manager began with frustration as his side settled for a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring brilliantly within the first 90 seconds, but despite a good performance, Amorim’s men failed to score another goal, leaving them languishing in 12th place in the Premier League table.
