Amorim: It was a more complete performance

The Reds registered our third consecutive Premier League win with a 4-2 victory over the Seagulls, with Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and Bryan Mbeumo (2) all getting on the scoresheet.

Amorim met with journalists inside Old Trafford after the victory and discussed those two wins, Casemiro's resurgence and Cunha's first United goal.

Keep scrolling to read everything he had to say...

Congratulations on the win. Obviously, we spoke a lot about the Liverpool result and how important that was, but to get over the line, a third win in a row, how big is that for you and your season?

“[It] was really important. Also, the performance, we had to play different games in different moments of the game, and I think the players understood really well what to do in every moment. We suffered a little bit in the end. But it would not be Manchester United without suffering a little bit. But I think we deserved the win against a very, very good team, a team that is really hard to press really high. But we did well.”

It’s obviously your best winning run, but do you think over the past few weeks we've seen the best of Manchester United under you? And, to your mind, do they look a lot more like your team than they ever have?

“Yeah, I think they are more confident. I think the best game that we did this season was against Arsenal, was the first one. But then, when you are a little bit more confident, when you have a different spirit, sometimes you have a little bit [of] luck in certain moments of the game that help you to win games. Is that what I'm feeling now, that we are a little bit more free playing the game? And like last week, we have a little bit luck because of that, because we are in the different spirit.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was here. I don't know if you've spoken to him since the final whistle, but what do you feel now that your team's winning, that you can look at him and say, ‘I'm delivering what you want’?

“It's more for the fans. I never had that feeling of embarrassment of what I was doing, or not winning games. It’s more with the fans, because I felt always that Jim believes and knows what we are doing, but to face the fans is a little bit different in this moment. But what I feel is the urgency of not losing this moment because it's so hard and in football, everything can change in one week. So, let's enjoy today and focus on the next one.”

You just said there that Brighton are quite a hard team to press high up. It looked like you had Matthijs [de Ligt] and [Luke] Shaw being very aggressive when [Georginio] Rutter and [Danny] Welbeck dropped in. Did you feel like the team was a little bit more aggressive today?

“That was the plan. When we have Harry Maguire, we can defend better, our box, so we can play a little bit lower. But when you have players that can press high, they are – Matta maybe – but Luke is not really tall, but he’s fast, he’s aggressive. We can press a little bit higher. And we know that they are so confident that if we win the ball, we have the players in front of the goal. They are so good that you just need one chance when you win the ball. And I think we did really well, especially in the first half.”

That was Matheus [Cunha]’s first goal for United tonight, but his performances so far have warranted more than that. Do you expect him to kick on now? And what can you tell us about what he brings to this team and how he changes?

“You felt that – I think everyone felt against Liverpool – he feels more confident if the game is harder, he wants the responsibility. I really like the way he defends today. He was not jumping all the time. He was not jumping and then returning to position without the right pace. Today, [he] defend really well. And when he has the ball, he's not my concern. I have no concerns [when] Matheus has the ball. He was struggling about not scoring goals. He can try to hide, but I understand. He was really happy, but I'm [happy] not just with Matheus. I think everyone understood really well how to beat a very good team.”

How happy are you with the mental side of the team, that they’re showing resilience?

“I think we are improving in the bad moments, we can respond in a different way, and we feel that we can solve anything. And that helps us to win these kind of games when you are in a very good moment and then you struggle in the end, but you can feel that the team is a little bit different. But you said everything in your question. Was three weeks ago, ‘Ugh’, also, so that can change also in the next three weeks. So, again, let's enjoy, but that urgency of, ‘This could change’, it must be there in the next training.”

I wanted to ask you about Casimiro? About two years ago Jamie Carragher said he was finished in the Premier League, but what he made of how he turned it around and what does he give you?

“I think he gives a lot of experience. He's an example for everyone. In the beginning, he was behind every midfielder, even Toby [Collyer], but he fought and he worked, and now he's back in the national team. He's so important for us. Today he run a lot. He had to press so high and then return, and he's doing that. So, I'm really pleased with him. And the other guys need to look at Casemiro. He understands that football can change really fast. You just need to work for me. If you are the best one, or I think you are the best one to play the game, you are going to play the game if you do the right things.”

So many Premier League teams are playing in Europe this season, obviously, you're not amongst them. Are we maybe now seeing the benefit of you having all week, every week, with these players on the training ground every day?

“I think you can sense that, of course, the results now, you can feel that. But the team, since we started this season, the team play so much better compared to last season. We have different players, more suited to this type of style. But it's a big difference. Every team that plays in this league, and has to play in Europe, it's so much harder. And we felt that last year. So, I said that last year, I will say the same thing, [it] is a big advantage to have just one game per week, and we have to take advantage of that."

Do you think that win today was more of a statement than beating Liverpool, given Brighton's record at Old Trafford, and also what you said after they won here last season?

“I have that feeling. I think [it] was a more complete performance. You can say whatever you want to say against Liverpool, but they didn't deserve to lose that game. We deserve to win, but they didn't deserve to lose. I think today, we did a little bit of everything. We had the ball, create chances, we defend high, we defend low. So, when it’s more complete, it's not a statement, but I feel more complete also as a manager. So today I think I like today more than last weekend."

There were other teams who were looking at Bryan Mbeumo in the summer. Did you have a big role in speaking to him before he came here? And also, when he's in your team, how is your team different?

“He’s a working machine. He’s so good in transitions. He’s improving when we are organising the final third. The connection with Amad, it’s really hard to beat these two guys because they change position, they are really fast, they are good in one against one. My role was, as a manager, to explain what I want from him. But it was more the club. And you guys. We can struggle a lot, but it’s Manchester United. When Manchester United is there, and when we feel that this player wants to come here, no matter what, no matter what the position, no matter if it's Champions League or not, we also give everything to bring these kind of guys, and that was the case.”

Could we ask how Luke Shaw is?

“Luke Shaw is fine. He had a virus during the week. He struggled a little bit in the game, but he’s going to be ready for the next one.”

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