Amorim: Places still up for grabs

The Reds showed signs of progress in seeing off West Ham United 2-1 at the MetLife Stadium, with skipper Bruno Fernandes scoring both goals.

The win in the Premier League Summer Series featured some excellent individual displays and our head coach spoke about the likes of the captain, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund afterwards.

See some of what Ruben had to say to MUTV and during his post-match press conference...

EARLY GOAL HELPED

"It was completely different to last season. We didn't suffer, we scored and that can help you play better. We had some possession, we defend well, one against one, we press high, especially the goal-kicks and it helped us to win the ball sometimes. I think we need to have more long possession when we win the ball, so that we are near the box and try to find the small spaces. We can handle the ball and work the ball a little bit more."

CHANGES AFFECTED US

"Until the West Ham goal, we were controlling the game, with more opportunities, and then we suffered a little bit, we changed all the team with a lot of young kids. But it was a good test to improve the team."

WHO IMPRESSED?

"All the guys. I don't want to talk specifically. Rasmus [Hojlund] did well. I really liked Rasmus's game, the runs and the way he fought during the game, one against one, when we kicked the ball. He connected with the team-mates so he did a great job, Matheus Cunha is that kind of player that can help us, he can help us a lot because he can run with the ball and that is something that can change the game. We missed that last year. In the first half, Kobbie [Mainoo] and Manu [Ugarte] were really good. I'm not going to talk about the second team because it's really hard for 11 [10] players to go to the pitch, you know, a lot of young kids. But I really like the team. Of course, you have to look at the game and you have to improve things."

TALKING TACTICS

"I think we need to not just prepare for the games but teach the game to the players because, nowadays, the build-up from the opponents, sometimes you don't know what is going to happen. A lot of midfielders dropping into the defence, the defenders starting to run. So you cannot control it like in the past, like you know they are going to build with four. These small things we need to prepare for the game but they need to understand for any situation, and we try to do that during training."

FERNANDES CAN GET FRUSTRATED

"It was so clear last season, you can see it with the goals and assists. But it's not just that. I think now he has more players, I feel, to help him to lead the group and that is a good thing. He is our leader and really important, not just on the field, but off the field. He leads by example. He works really hard, is always available and, sometimes, he plays with pain. Sometimes, the problem is he gets frustrated and loses a little bit of focus of his job. Sometimes, he wants to help the team-mates so much, it is not the best thing to do. They have to do their job and Bruno has, for example, to wait for the ball."

BRUNO'S POSITION

"He has a function or a position for every game. It's impossible to play all the positions. Last year, I felt sometimes I pushed him back to have more possession in the build-up and we miss Bruno near the box. With different characteristics from Bryan [Mbeumo] and Matheus Cunha, and I really like Kobbie Mainoo's game, he will have more help this season. Bruno runs a lot, maybe in the sprints, he is a different player but he runs a lot. He has a lot of endurance and he is smart. It's not about that. Physicality with Bruno is not a concern, playing him deep or as an attacking midfielder."

PLANNING LINE-UP FOR ARSENAL OPENER?

"It's a strong team and we need to prepare all the players, and we don't have a lot of weeks or a lot of games to prepare all the team. That can change, you saw in the second half, there are players who can play in the first game. It's not a decision I made already."