"Everything feels so difficult" – Amorim seeks solutions at Manchester United

 

Manchester United suffered a second consecutive 3-0 home defeat to "small" Bournemouth, as described by Cherries owner Bill Foley, leaving them 13th in the Premier League table heading into Christmas. This marks the first time they’ve been in the bottom half at this stage since pre-Premier League days.

Frustration from the fans was palpable, with boos ringing out at the final whistle. The supporters are also protesting a ticket price hike to £66, with no concessions, joining forces with rival Liverpool fans to make their voices heard when the teams meet at Anfield on January 5.

During his post-match press conference, Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag last month, acknowledged the fans' frustration. "Everything is so hard," he admitted. "To lose 3-0 at home at a club like Manchester United is really tough for everybody." He also noted the anxiety felt within the stadium, especially when Andre Onana was unsure of what to do with the ball.

Though Amorim has introduced a more controlled style of play, with United holding 60% possession and creating more chances than Bournemouth, they still came away with nothing. The defeat marked only the second time in history that United have lost back-to-back home games to the same opponent by three goals.

Set-piece defending continues to be a major issue. Bournemouth’s first goal came from a free-kick, with teenager Dean Huijsen easily shrugging off Joshua Zirkzee to score. United have now conceded 17 goals from set pieces in 2024, their highest tally in a single calendar year in the Premier League.

While Amorim deflected blame from set-piece coach Carlos Fernandes, he acknowledged the team's struggles: “We didn’t lose because of set-pieces. We lost because we created more chances and didn’t score.”

Defender Lisandro Martinez echoed concerns, emphasizing the need to work on set-piece defense: "If they don’t score their first goal from a set-piece, it’s a totally different game."

Amorim is also grappling with a lack of quality in certain areas. Tyrell Malacia, trusted with the left wing-back role, was subbed off at halftime after a poor first half, while Noussair Mazraoui, moved into the same position, gave away a penalty that allowed Bournemouth to extend their lead.

Up front, Bruno Fernandes was the only real threat to Bournemouth’s goal, while Marcus Rashford was again omitted for the third consecutive game. Amorim remains uncertain about Rashford’s involvement in the upcoming Boxing Day match against Wolves, saying, “We will see.”