Ruben Amorim’s strategy is materializing at Manchester United, even though they couldn’t claim a victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, resulting in a 1-1 draw with Bruno Fernandes of the Red Devils missing a penalty. After United compelled Fulham into an own goal, Emile Smith Rowe equalized, but it was a game that highlighted both the progress made and the areas still needing improvement, with just one point taken from two matches and no goals scored by them.
Right from the start, Matheus Cunha could have easily netted a hat trick in the first 10 minutes but was thwarted by the post and a superb save from Bernd Leno. The offense was quicker than ever, as United adopted a route-one style, even with Benjamin Sesko starting the game on the bench. Bruno Fernandes found space to maneuver, and when United maintained possession, Fulham struggled. Nevertheless, their vulnerabilities were evident when out of possession.
This predicament begins with their captain, Bruno Fernandes. The arrivals of Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have enhanced the offensive play, but they have also pushed Fernandes back into a midfield role alongside Casemiro. This compromises United’s defensive solidity while they already face goalkeeping challenges, which Fulham exploited. Defensive shortcomings are familiar for the Red Devils, but Amorim must rectify these issues for improvement to occur. It’s a challenging journey to elevate a team that ended 15th in the Premier League last season, but Amorim is committed to that progress.
«I believe we can perform better, but we’re putting in the effort, which is most important to me. I think there were moments we excelled, particularly at the beginning of the match, and I sensed that after the goal, we focused solely on the result, instead of the game itself, and this team needs to secure victories,» Amorim stated post-match on the USA Network broadcast. «We must concentrate on the performance and our necessary actions since if we only think about results, we forget to execute the fundamental tasks.»
Amorim highlights the current pressure on the team, emphasizing that it’s a collective effort for United to overcome this situation. Old Trafford’s nickname as the Theater of Dreams is not merely coincidence, and the spotlight will remain intensely focused on his team. The players must adapt, or they might find themselves out of the starting lineup, as Amorim has demonstrated a willingness to bench those who do not adhere to his tactics and has made his expectations clear.
He aims for the team to maintain possession and accelerate play while taking an aggressive approach during matches, as seen for much of the first half. Despite his interrupted run-up, Fernandes must avoid sending a penalty high and wide of the goal. If that had gone in, the narrative of the match for United could have been different. However, it illustrates the current precarious state of the club. They have struggled to find consistent form for a long time, and losing a Europa League final to Tottenham adds pressure after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
This presents a significant challenge for Amorim, which will only intensify if United’s performance does not improve as the excitement of new signings diminishes. There are strategies to alleviate this, such as integrating academy players who may be too young to feel the weight of pressure, but with Kobbie Mainoo yet to appear this season, it’s evident Amorim still needs to determine the optimal lineup each week. However, time is of the essence at United, and they must secure that first win of the season swiftly, or the mounting pressure may further fracture the club.
