Ruben on transfers, tactics, Mainoo & more
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was asked about his squad, potential transfers, Fulham away, Kobbie Mainoo and more during his latest press conference on Friday afternoon.
You can watch it in full via the video below, or read the Q&A here…
Hi Ruben, how’s the squad looking for Sunday? Is Onana ready?
“Onana is ready to play like last week, so we will see in the game who is going to be the goalkeeper. Licha is out, Nous is out, the rest of the guys are fit and ready to play.”
Obviously, Sunday is an important match but there seems to be a lot going on with the transfer deadline getting closer, especially with outgoings. Is there any movement on that side?
“You have to talk with Jason. We have a department that is responsible for that part, I’m just focused on the performance on Sunday and trying to win the game.”
How often do they update you?
“We talk every day. So, it’s not a meeting, a formal meeting every day, but we are talking about all the situations and we are trying to see every situation.”
Hi Ruben, how’s the squad looking for Sunday? Is Onana ready?
“Onana is ready to play like last week, so we will see in the game who is going to be the goalkeeper. Licha is out, Nous is out, the rest of the guys are fit and ready to play.”
Obviously, Sunday is an important match but there seems to be a lot going on with the transfer deadline getting closer, especially with outgoings. Is there any movement on that side?
“You have to talk with Jason. We have a department that is responsible for that part, I’m just focused on the performance on Sunday and trying to win the game.”
How often do they update you?
“We talk every day. So, it’s not a meeting, a formal meeting every day, but we are talking about all the situations and we are trying to see every situation.”
Part one: Press conference v Fulham Video
Part one: Press conference v Fulham
PRESS CONFERENCE | Ruben has provided the latest team news ahead of matchday two: Fulham away on Sunday…
Do you think more people may be coming in?
“No, it’s not an idea that these guys are going to leave, to play in a different club, and then we are going to receive another player. We don’t know what is going to happen, but we are not waiting to take out someone to bring another player. One thing is not responsible for the other.”
Does that not make it difficult to plan?
“I think the players you are talking about are the players that are not with the group at this moment. We have a group training, so it’s not going to affect us a lot.”
Ruben, just on one of those players in terms of Rasmus, I wanted to ask how the conversations have been with him?
“Like a professional player. We need to see. Let’s wait until the market is closed and then everything is going to be more clear.”
“No, it’s not an idea that these guys are going to leave, to play in a different club, and then we are going to receive another player. We don’t know what is going to happen, but we are not waiting to take out someone to bring another player. One thing is not responsible for the other.”
Does that not make it difficult to plan?
“I think the players you are talking about are the players that are not with the group at this moment. We have a group training, so it’s not going to affect us a lot.”
Ruben, just on one of those players in terms of Rasmus, I wanted to ask how the conversations have been with him?
“Like a professional player. We need to see. Let’s wait until the market is closed and then everything is going to be more clear.”
And I want to ask about Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, two players who were injured a lot, how good has it been to have a pre-season behind them, and with their World Cup ambitions?
“More important is for them to help Manchester United to reach our goals. Then they are very, very good players, they are experienced, they play a lot of matches. Mason Mount won the Champions League, Luke Shaw I think I already said, when he’s fit, he’s really a special player, and you can see it every time he plays. So, it’s really important for us to have these two guys available for more games.”
Ruben what are your thoughts on Fulham?
“It’s always hard to play against Fulham. They have a clear identity. Marco Silva is really experienced and really smart, he can change several things, cover several spaces and you can see game-by-game, he tries to do that. They are really comfortable because they have the experience, they understand the league is long so they will feel confident and relaxed for the game so it’s going to be a tough match. But if you look at the schedule, every game is really hard to play, so it’s going to be a tough match.”
“More important is for them to help Manchester United to reach our goals. Then they are very, very good players, they are experienced, they play a lot of matches. Mason Mount won the Champions League, Luke Shaw I think I already said, when he’s fit, he’s really a special player, and you can see it every time he plays. So, it’s really important for us to have these two guys available for more games.”
Ruben what are your thoughts on Fulham?
“It’s always hard to play against Fulham. They have a clear identity. Marco Silva is really experienced and really smart, he can change several things, cover several spaces and you can see game-by-game, he tries to do that. They are really comfortable because they have the experience, they understand the league is long so they will feel confident and relaxed for the game so it’s going to be a tough match. But if you look at the schedule, every game is really hard to play, so it’s going to be a tough match.”
And in terms of what you saw from your own team, did that give you confidence or areas to focus on going forward?
“Both. I think we did well, we played well, but there is a lot of things that we need to improve. Every game has its history. The space and the opponent is not going to be the same, even the responsibility on the game could be a little bit different and that has a lot of influence on the game. So, we need to be just consistent in our performance and consistency is not just playing in the same way, it’s to maintain the level and not drop too much, and I feel that pre-season is pre-season, but even in pre-season and against Arsenal, our consistency was good.”
Hi Ruben, you obviously played on the front foot against Arsenal and got plaudits for that. When you’re playing teams who might sit back deeper, do you think your team has taken a step forward in that regard?
“We are better, but also because I think we have different characteristics and we can change that during the game. We have more options, so you see that we play in a little bit of a different style with Cunha and then at the end with Sesko because he is a different player and we can use that. I think we are improving in that department also, we are creating more chances, so we are ready for any type of game. I think the biggest improvement is that we didn’t lose the ball so many times in build up, that was really good as well as for our team, so we will try to be consistent. So, trying to maintain the level and trying to improve a little bit.”
“Both. I think we did well, we played well, but there is a lot of things that we need to improve. Every game has its history. The space and the opponent is not going to be the same, even the responsibility on the game could be a little bit different and that has a lot of influence on the game. So, we need to be just consistent in our performance and consistency is not just playing in the same way, it’s to maintain the level and not drop too much, and I feel that pre-season is pre-season, but even in pre-season and against Arsenal, our consistency was good.”
Hi Ruben, you obviously played on the front foot against Arsenal and got plaudits for that. When you’re playing teams who might sit back deeper, do you think your team has taken a step forward in that regard?
“We are better, but also because I think we have different characteristics and we can change that during the game. We have more options, so you see that we play in a little bit of a different style with Cunha and then at the end with Sesko because he is a different player and we can use that. I think we are improving in that department also, we are creating more chances, so we are ready for any type of game. I think the biggest improvement is that we didn’t lose the ball so many times in build up, that was really good as well as for our team, so we will try to be consistent. So, trying to maintain the level and trying to improve a little bit.”
Ruben, you say we’ll see who starts, but regardless of who plays in net, do you feel you need to change how you defend set pieces?
“No, we need to analyse the opponent and try to put the best set-up to protect the goal in set pieces and we do it all the time, the best we can. We are not going to change now because the last goal. What we need to improve is to do the same thing to the opponent, to try to take advantage of that.”
With Kobbie Mainoo, is there any movement on a new contract for him at all?
“That part is with Jason. So it’s our player, he has a contract, I didn’t hear any news about that.”
How’s his development going? He’s not starting as many games?
“We had some issues but we play with two midfielders, so it’s sometimes a different way of playing, and we have to understand, they have to understand, especially the young players, that there is phases in the season. Nowadays it’s normal with a lot of games, things are going to change, but he is there, he’s fighting, he’s training, so he’s one more option for us to win games.”
“No, we need to analyse the opponent and try to put the best set-up to protect the goal in set pieces and we do it all the time, the best we can. We are not going to change now because the last goal. What we need to improve is to do the same thing to the opponent, to try to take advantage of that.”
With Kobbie Mainoo, is there any movement on a new contract for him at all?
“That part is with Jason. So it’s our player, he has a contract, I didn’t hear any news about that.”
How’s his development going? He’s not starting as many games?
“We had some issues but we play with two midfielders, so it’s sometimes a different way of playing, and we have to understand, they have to understand, especially the young players, that there is phases in the season. Nowadays it’s normal with a lot of games, things are going to change, but he is there, he’s fighting, he’s training, so he’s one more option for us to win games.”
It’s a few weeks now since you said those five players weren’t going to go on tour of the USA. Only Marcus has left. Is it frustrating that you still have the other four? Is there anything they could have done as players to help the situation?
“Again, I know that it’s not a good thing to have players in this situation, but it’s clear that they want to play in a different club. That is clear. So we try to arrange everything for both parties to be happy, so I have to try to imagine to have the training with the guys that I think are going to be the future. And then the other guys are training and preparing for the next chapter. When the window is closed, it’s a different story. When the window is closed, we have to receive the players and then new life and anything can happen.”
Part two of the press conference will be available from 22:30 BST on Saturday.
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