Amorim: Heaven's improving every game

Ruben Amorim has revealed he's “really pleased” with the progress of Ayden Heaven, following Manchester United's 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

The Reds bagged all three points in a hard-fought win, thanks to a sensational Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu volley in the first half, but the game required plenty of defensive work from the likes of Heaven.

Here's everything the head coach said about his performance in the post-match press conference, as he addressed more big talking points from the game...

Evening, Ruben. You finished that game with four players, 21 years and younger. I mean, how pleased are you with the togetherness and what the team showed?

“Yeah, really pleased, especially in the second half. I think we suffered all together. You can say that we defend well because we didn't suffer the goal, but they have chances to score a goal. We needed a little bit [of] luck sometimes. We had so many games this season that we didn't win [where we] play better than the opponent. Today, I think we did well, just that in the first half, in the second half we suffer, but we managed to win.”

You talked to us about Patrick [Chinazaekpere] Dorgu a few weeks ago and his form at that time, but back-to-back, really impressive performances. What's been behind him turning around his form?

“It's the normal life of a player. Sometimes you are in the good moment, sometimes you struggle. Sometimes [it] depends on the team or the game. Maybe the game today with a lot of transitions is good for his pace, for his ability to drive the ball. He played one position that he can take more risk, that can help also a player like him to not feel that responsibility all the time. So, I think he did well.“

Can I ask you about Ayden Heaven’s performance this evening?

“I'm really pleased with Ayden. You can feel that he’s improving every game. He's young, but you don't feel that he has a good game and then he slows the game or the thinking during the game. No, you feel that he’s improving during the game. I think he was not playing, but he trained really well. You just need to train really well to be ready when the opportunity comes. So, in this moment, if you continue to play like that, it's going to be really hard to take his place.”

You talk about suffering, it's only the second time you've kept a clean sheet this season. When you look at the possession, 32 per cent, I wouldn't imagine that is the way that you want to play. But is getting that clean sheet important?

“The feeling is good, but if you compare to other games, we suffer so much more today. But in certain moments, we put everything on the line. We were inside the box, but we are putting our body in front of the goal. We were defending every cross. We are trying to push out of the box when the ball went back. So, that is a good feeling to have, a clean sheet, but if you look at the game, we had so many games that we control so much better, the opponent, and we suffer goals. Sometimes you just need a little bit [of] luck.“

You’ve obviously had some big wins here, City, Arsenal on penalties, Liverpool. But because of the problems that you're having to deal with, I know you don't want an excuses, but you are dealing with a lot of problems, and last time you talked about wanting to see spirit and desire? Is that one of the most satisfying wins that you've had?

“Yeah, yeah. Yes, especially if you see the second half. We managed to defend, sometimes with a back six, but we suffer together, and that is a good feeling, and I'm always talking about when we had good performance, and I felt that we are here and talking about the game. If we have always this spirit, we are going to win so many games. So, I think it's something that we need, to feel that, that we can win sometimes without playing so well, we can win games with the spirit and with the togetherness in the team.”

You talked about that second half there, the back six. Could you explain that a little bit more, about putting it on the line?

“The opponent push us, and then sometimes we adapt. Our wingers were playing like full-backs in certain moments. I remember the first game against Arsenal, sometimes they were in the back six with [Bukayo] Saka and the wingers defending. So sometimes you need to adapt and there is no tactic in that moment. We were just trying to compensate each other. [It] was not the idea, but you can understand to look at the context of the team when you have to take Mason [Mount off], it's hard when you have to, and we were struggling a lot, and we put two wing-backs helping the full-backs. So, we were just trying to survive in the second half.”

Could you please explain the context of taking off Casemiro? Is that because you have so many games coming up?

“No, it's not. This is the most important game. In that moment, I don't want to take [Matheus] Cunha [off] because I felt that he was the only guy can allow us to breathe, and I put him as a no.10. Jack [Fletcher] was fresh [to] continue. Manu [Ugarte] was fresher than Casemiro. We took a chance because they were making a lot of corner runs, and I felt that he was going to struggle in that moment.”

Can I just ask you about Lisandro [Martinez]? Like, we saw what he means to everybody here with the ovation that he got when you brought him off. What difference does he make to the team in attack and defence? And do you think that had he stayed fitter for longer, you might be the better league position?

“No, I don't want to say that because if we don't have more points, it's because of the team, not because of a specific player. I think he is a guy with a lot of character. He's really good on the ball and that came with the quality that he has. He played [in the] World Cup, he won [the] World Cup. He’s used to that that stress and he showed today that he’s a top player. And sometimes people talk about the way he defends the box because he's a small guy, but today he did really well against a team that just has tall players.”