Amorim rues avoidable City goals

The Reds were second best at the Etihad Stadium as Phil Foden’s first-half header and Erling Haaland’s second-half double gave Pep Guardiola’s side victory.

Watch Ruben's post-match interview with MUTV and read his thoughts in interviews with BBC Match of the Day and Sky Sports below...

WE SUFFERED GOALS WE CAN AVOID

"If you look at the goals, we can avoid those goals. That was the biggest difference. We can do better, especially the second goal. We suffered goals we can avoid. The biggest difference was when we had transitions, we didn't score. In the second half they did better in transition and we suffered in that moment.

"We can do better, that is clear but again transitions, the third goal, lack of quality in the connection, people don't know who is going to the ball and then the guy is free to score. The first one he [Doku] is in the middle of four guys and we can be aggressive in that moment. Of course in this moment it bounces and goes to Foden.

"In the second half, we started really well and then to suffer that kind of goal with the throw-in because we want to recover the ball so fast when we have to cover the space and then run to press, we let two players one against one, Leny [Yoro] is going from outside and not inside and then small pass, small run and Haaland scores.

"We then had the opportunity to open the game with Bryan [Mbeumo], great save from the opponent [Donnarumma] - all these small details make the difference."

WE NEED TO BE PERFECT IN THESE GAMES

"In these kind of games, we need to be perfect and in this game we were not perfect. The frustration is always the same because of the amount of chances we need to score goals. We need to work on a lot of things for the next game. In these kind of games, with top teams, the small margins will make the difference. The performance is not good, in certain moments they were better than us and in the end you don't have a good feeling."

NUMBER OF MIDFIELDERS IS NOT THE PROBLEM

"It’s the same thing, it’s always the same conversation. They [City] put four in the middle, we have three central defenders and two midfielders. You can see Bryan [Mbeumo] is always inside and [Benjamin] Sesko is there, so that conversation is always the same thing. We play last year the same way - of course with difference because the opponent is playing in a different way against Liverpool, against all these teams in the same way.

"So it’s not the midfielders because, again, if you feel that what you are going to do in the first goal has to do with the amount of midfielders. Doku receives the ball, turns to the defence and then takes two guys inside the box. Then the second half, we start really well with two midfielders. You are near the box controlling the game and then throw-in, goal. Third goal, you are controlling the game, trying to open the game, Bryan has a great opportunity, Amad is pushing on the side, we had some distraction with going to the ball, Haaland has all the field to run so it’s not to do with the midfielders.

"It’s the way you want to see the games. I saw a lot of teams playing here [at the Etihad Stadium] with five midfielders just blocking and they suffer more than us. I see a lot of games from Manchester United playing here with a lot of midfielders. Opportunities sometimes with one, two, so it’s not about that. Again, sometimes we play with the three defenders, five defenders, sometimes it’s five midfielders or two midfielders. It depends on the game of the opponent."

WE ARE BUILDING THINGS BUT WE NEED TO WIN

"We play against one coach [Pep Guardiola] that won seven Premier League titles and we are building things, trying to fight against these teams again. I am not going to defend myself, it's always the same question, trying to protect myself. We need to do better.

"If I look to the game, last year we draw and won against City and today we were a little bit better in certain things but in the small details, it was clearly not good enough. I don’t know what to tell you about that part of the moment, it’s always the same question. We are building things but of course we need to win."

I DIDN’T SEE ONE PLAYER NOT GIVING THE MAXIMUM

"I'm not happier. I didn't see one player of my team not giving the maximum. The rest is with me. The disappointment sometimes is I look at my team and I feel we could run more, but I didn't have that feeling today. If I have that feeling, I will be okay. I’m emotional when I feel that we can do better in effort. It's my fault, not their fault and I am fine with that. When I don’t do, it’s my fault, it’s not their fault, so I will be fine with that, so sometimes I’m emotional, sometimes I just move on and go to the next game.

"I know it's hard on our fans but again, I cannot point to one player [about lack of] effort. With game intelligence, a lot of things, yes we can improve but that is my fault and we can improve."