Ruben: Our principles will always remain
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim says he is happy his players are beginning to operate in different positions to better benefit the team.
As our current injury list continues to grow, Mason Mount was forced off at half-time against Newcastle on Boxing Day, meaning Amorim again had to rejig his side.
Opting to use all five of his permitted substitutes, the Reds reverted to a back five for the final stages of the game, with some players playing out of position to see out the win.
Ruben was asked if he feels a collective togetherness regarding his tactical set-up, admitting it is more about the continuing principles he tries to instil within the group.
Read on as the 40-year-old spoke to sections of the media earlier this week, as he previewed tomorrow's clash with Wolves at Old Trafford.
Press conference: United v Wolves
PRESS CONFERENCE | Ruben is asked about injuries, transfers, formations and ending the year against Wolves…
"No. I don't know how Mase [Mount] is going to be for that game. I think Kobbie Mainoo is not going to be ready. Bruno [Fernandes] is not going to be ready. I think Matta [de Ligt] is not going to be ready. Harry [Maguire] is not going to be ready. So I think we are not going to have [any] more players."
Would you expect them possibly for the Leeds game, any of them back?
"Bruno is already saying that he needs to train [laughs], but we don't know. Kobbie Mainoo is going to start on the pitch, also, so we will see. Matta is struggling a little bit, Harry the same thing, so I don't expect to have the players for this game [against Wolves]. For the other game [against Leeds], I don't know."
With Wolves, I mean obviously it's a big result tonight and a clean sheet, but it is massive that you build some momentum heading into New Year and don't take another step back?
"Of course. We need to and they showed that against Arsenal, they could almost [get] at least one point. So in the Premier League, you never know. They have their problems, we have our problems, but in this game, there is no excuses. We need to win. We will try to win the game."
You mentioned Bruno. I know he's very persuasive. There's no chance he's gonna twist your arm?
"No chance he is going to play. No chance, that he is going to play against Wolves. You can write that."
Hi Ruben. On recruitment, you've mentioned in the past there's been mistakes and here in previous years it's been a long-term problem. It feels like this year recruitment's been good. We've seen, you've spoken about Ayden, Dorgu's had a good game tonight. All the players in the summer feel like they're contributing and improving the team. Why has recruitment been been right?
"I don't know. Sometimes you need a little bit of luck. I think they have potential to do more. I think we are doing things that sometimes I have one idea. Then Jason [Wilcox] and the board has another idea and every decision that we make, we need to reach a common ground. And that is really important because you don't need to make everything for the manager, because the manager can change and you need to change everything, but you also need to understand that the manager understands the way of playing. And we are trying, every player that comes here, we will try to, if you don't reach common ground, the player will not come. So we just try to do that. We try to make all the assessments of how they live, how they train the characteristics, and I think we did well. But I think they have more to give. And if you talk about [Matheus] Cunha, for example, Ayden is a young guy, Cunha and Bryan [Mbeumo], they are from here, from our league. So it's easier for them to perform."
An insight into United's transfer strategy
ArticleIn his latest press conference, Ruben Amorim is asked why recruitment has been right during his reign.
"First of all, it is a process. When I came here last season, I understood that maybe I don't have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of the process. We are trying to build an identity. Today is a different moment. We don't have a lot of players. We need to adapt, but they already know that. They understand why we are changing. It's not because of the pressure of you guys or from the fans. It's because now we understand the way we want to play and the principles are the same. We can change the system and I think we are going to become a better team. Because when all the players return, we are not going to play all the time with three defenders. We are going to improve. But that was something that [we] was talking about. But then when you talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand that I'm changing because of you. And I think that is the end for the manager. So, when we are playing well in our system, I think that is the moment to change if it's the better thing to win the next game. That is what we did today."
How pleasing is it that you seem to be having the surprise effect when you are lining up on the opposition again today? Another team trying to work out what to do in that opening 10-15 minutes spell?
"Today we already knew that the way they will jump in the pressure and that will be massive. I remember the game from last year. I think they have more physicality if we go into a back five. They already knew the player that [they] need to jump to and transform that game in one against one, one against one against this team. I think we will lose. I'm just trying to improve and all the mistakes that I did in the last season, I am trying to learn a little bit and to change things."
Amorim's team news for United v Wolves
ArticleThe boss has commented on Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
"He cannot be that guy that is not playing, not talking and not speaking. He's always speaking. That's why he's the captain and he has bad things sometimes the way [he] moves his arms. But he has a lot of good things and he's always leaving the game, the practice every time, every time he makes recovery from the game, he's the guy that is going to watch the other guys training in that day. So there is a lot of things that you guys don't see that he does. He's a great leader now."
So even when he can't play, is he there?
"Yeah, all the time. He's the guy that is watching the trainings even after treatment and is going [out] there. I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."