Every word from Ruben's press conference

Sunday 19 January 2025 18:24

Ruben Amorin stressed that the only way to improve the current situation following Sunday's frustrating defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion is for Manchester United to work harder and win games.

The 3-1 loss at Old Trafford was United's first of 2025 but marked the continuation of a difficult run of form for the team.

Amorim conceded that it is important to acknowledge our position, 13th in the table, for what it is and remains committed to his ideas to reverse our fortunes.

Ruben’s take on Brighton defeat Video

Ruben’s take on Brighton defeat

Ruben Amorim speaks with MUTV following United’s 3-1 home defeat to Brighton…

Can you explain what it looks like in your mind when you say 'players have to suffer'?

"It's hard to explain. We have to acknowledge the moment and not go around the problem. Everybody here is underperforming. No matter the circumstances, we are underperforming and we have to accept it is unacceptable to lose so many games…for any club in the Premier League, [let alone] Manchester United. It is a really hard moment but we have to continue. There is no other way, we have to suffer and continue."

What have you learned from this performance?

"The opponent is better than us in many details, that we cannot be consistent, that I am not helping my players in the moment. It's a hard moment and we have to acknowledge we are in a very difficult situation, all the bad records - losing games at home, losing games in the Premier League. We are really underperforming and we need to win games, that's all."

What do you mean by saying you are not helping the players?

"I knew it was going to be hard to put in a completely new idea in the moment. But when you lose games, you don't have that luck to win three games in a row, it's becoming really hard. That's why I'm telling [you] we are going to suffer because I'm going to continue to do the same. To help my players is to give them the tools to play this way, but, without training, it is really hard. Then, without training and losing games. You could feel it in the end of the game, everybody was changing position, and that is something I will not see again. We can lose, but we will not change position.

"I just want to help my players. If I want to show to the media and the fans, I [would] put two strikers [on the pitch], I didn't put two strikers [on] because it is going to be more difficult for them to understand the way we play. I'm just here to try to help my players, but we need to understand that we are breaking all the bad records. It's a bad thing we need to change."

It can't be good for Manchester United fans to hear you say opponents have been better?

"In 10 Premier League games, we've won two. I know that. If it's [like] this for a fan of Manchester United, imagine what it's like for me. You are getting a new coach that is losing more than the last coach, I have full knowledge of that. Like I said, I'm not going to change, no matter what, and I know we can succeed. But we need to survive this moment because I’m not naive and I know that we need to survive now. We are being the worst team, maybe, in the history of Manchester United, and I know that you want headlines but I'm saying that because we have to acknowledge that and change that."

Are you let down by Marcus Rashford not being here to help the team?

"In this moment, Rashford is not here and, in the last games that we lost, Rashford was not here. I don't want to put this moment on Rashford. Rashford is out of this moment because he's not playing. No matter what, I'm not going to put in a player I don't believe is best for the team."

How difficult is it for top professionals to take on a new idea?

"They are used to different things. You have seen in your years of experience, sometimes, you have one team that almost wins the league and then, next season, is really bad, without confidence. Our players are really nervous in actions, when you go on the pitch, you remember the last games here. If I feel it, the players feel it a lot. The only way to fix this is continue to do the same and win games."

Highlights: United v Brighton Video

Highlights: United v Brighton

Highlights | Watch our round-up from United's latest Premier League clash, against Brighton...

How do you build the physicality in the team that you've spoken about?

"First of all, it's training. In everything we do. Even if the training is small…10, 15 minutes, we have to give everything. Then, we have to be prepared to suffer. It's the only way. We have to feel that feeling we felt against Liverpool. We have to have to feel that every day. Even when we win two games, we need to have that feeling every day. I think in the training ground, during the week, is the best way to train that feeling."

Is it concerning that players appear to lose concentration at the start of a game?

"We need to be really focused on the game and, sometimes, I've felt the team is focused on a lot of stuff. But [the first Brighton goal] is a simple play. If there is one play that Brighton does, it's to push the centre-back [forward] and the winger makes the movement, and we knew that before the game. I don't want to point to that specific [moment], it's everything. The only way is to work really hard to win games. We have time to change things around."

Are lapses coming back into Andre Onana's game?

"It's like the team, ups and downs. Really up, sometimes, and really low downs. We have to maintain the focus during all the game to try to win. That is the only way we can turn things around."

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