Every word from Ruben's post-Arsenal press conference
Manchester United secured a dramatic Emirates FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, requiring extra time and penalties to seal our passage in the competition.
Captain Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring early in the second half, which preceded a chaotic 10-minute spell during which Diogo Dalot received a second yellow card, Gabriel equalised for the Gunners and Altay Bayindir stood strong to keep out Martin Odegaard's penalty.
Neither side could breach the other team's defence outside of that second-half blitz, with 120 minutes of football still requiring penalties to decide a winner - and it was Ruben Amorim's side who emerged victorious.
Our head coach gathered with media inside the stadium following the final whistle. Here's everything he had to say in his press conference...
Ruben, congratulations. How pleased were you with that performance? Especially given that you played Arsenal just over a month ago and that was a very different result.
"I think we play, especially in the first half, we play better [than] in the first game. We were better in set pieces today, more aggressive. We show different spirit, even with 10 men. We are improving on that aspect. I think we had a lot of difficulties in the beginning of the game to control the game with the ball and then we suffered, not big opportunities, but we suffered running after the ball, especially to switch of play, to win the first pressure of Arsenal. But then we can take in this moment, take the game to a different level when we talk about aggressivity. And that is a very good thing. We managed to score and then I felt in that moment we were able to improve with the ball, but with the [player] sent off [it] was really hard on us. And then we suffered all together, defending very well, with some opportunities from Arsenal. The players were really tired, but I felt since the first minute that today was our day. And I felt also a connection with our fans, our staff. It was a very good day for us in that aspect. We need to improve the way we play football."
What did you think of the penalty decision? It seemed like the momentum changed in your favour, but the players didn't think it was a penalty.
"Yeah, it's far away. The players told me that it was not a penalty, but let's move on. We go to the next round and focus on the next game."
You often talk about how your team suffers, and how they have to suffer a goal. Do you think they're pushing through this suffering now and becoming more resilient?
"I think that is clear. I think also [it] is clear that when we score first, that helps us to suffer. It's like more strain to suffer after if something happened. When the opponent has one opportunity, we can stop the game. We can count down the game, and I think we are understanding more the way we play football. Sometimes you are not playing well, but you can control the game in certain moments. But it's clear that we are improving in the way that we suffer playing football, and that is a good thing. It's not nice, but it's a good thing for our team."
This idea that you've spoken about, you said in your first press conference, you see an idea with this team. Do you think this idea is becoming more clear?
"Part of the idea then, like I said, with the ball we had some difficulties. I think players like [Alejandro] Garnacho, who want to play open, playing inside, they need to suffer. I can put them open, but then I will have to change the idea and then it will take more time. I think it is also good for a player with the quality. For example, like Garnacho and Amad, if they are able to play inside and outside, they will be so much more complete. So, I think the idea still needs a lot of time, but in that part of the spirit to suffer, to understanding the game, to make some pauses. No, on the game, I think we are improving."
We spoke about Martin [Odegaard] before the game. Obviously he had a key role to play today as well. How vital was the penalty miss for United today?
"It was really important because [it] gives us more strength, and then with less one player, he's really hard to press. It's really hard to press a team like Arsenal with 11 players, imagine with 10 players, and then you are in [a] disadvantage, [it] is really hard because they can control the ball. They were already controlling the ball in a lot of moments. So it was vital to win the game, to draw the game."
Amorim: The spirit was there
Ruben Amorim says he could feel the connection between his players and our fans at the Emirates Stadium...
Joshua Zirkzee obviously became the hero. He's had some stick. What did you make of the moment when he scored the goal and how important was it for him to get that?
"Yeah, it's really important, not just for him, but for all the players. Your life as a footballer has cycles, and moments, and sometimes in one week, your life can change. And you can see Altay [Bayindir] - against Tottenham, everybody was like pointing the finger for Altay, and I understand that. And today, he was our hero, also. Joshua, [a] few weeks ago, had a small problem with our fans and today, every time he's going on the pitch, you feel the support from the fans and then he has the last penalty. So, the life is like that and you have to continue [to be] humble, to work every day. Your time will come. And so it's really important for them. Not just for them, but for his team-mates."
Ruben, obviously you've given Joshua Zirkzee the fifth penalty. Did you worry about the consequences of him not scoring? Obviously, considering how much pressure he's been under, that's a big moment for him to score that, but were you worried about actually the consequences of it going the other way?
"I was not, because I had the feeling that we are going to win, but that part is not my part. The set pieces is not my part, and today we were amazing in set pieces. So Carlos [Fernandes] was really good. Andreas [Georgson] was really good. Emanuel [Ferro] was really good, and they chose the right players to score the penalty. So, it's not my part, it was them. They did a very good job."
Apologies for asking this after such an amazing performance, but Marcus Rashford obviously wasn't part of the squad today. Is it likely that he's played his last game for Manchester United?
"I don't know. I don't know, we'll see. He is a player for Manchester United. We'll see. He has to work. He has to represent this club, and he loves this club, but I have to make choices. [I] already spoke about how I make the choices. So it is what it is. So let's continue. Let's see the next game. And like I said, I have to make a selection."