INCONSISTENCY KILLS: RUBEN AMORIM SLAMS UNITED AFTER LATE GOAL CONCEDED
A furious Ruben Amorim slammed his Manchester United team's inconsistency and failure to hold a lead after Soungoutou Magassa's late equalizer for West Ham
Ruben Amorim didn't hide his frustration after Manchester United blew their lead against West Ham at Old Trafford.
Their good run of five games without a loss ended when Everton beat them 1-0 at home about a week and a half ago.
United bounced back by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday, but couldn't keep the momentum going back at Old Trafford.
Soungoutou Magassa scored from a corner late in the game, cancelling out Diogo Dalot’s goal and earning West Ham a tie, which left Amorim fuming.
"I'm frustrated and angry, that's all," he said, clearly annoyed, at the post-game press conference.
When asked how he plans to improve the team's performance, he said, We just need to keep working and aim to win the next game.
Amorim seemed angrier than usual, even snapping at reporters and disagreeing with the idea that United had been declining recently.
"We aren't going backwards," he insisted. The results might be, but we've had good moments. That can happen.
You were saying that when we were on that winning streak, the team was perfect and that we were close to being perfect again. The truth is, we're not consistent.
If you look at their goal, it was in the 83rd minute. It was just a long ball, and we had it under control. We need to do better.
Amorim plans to discuss the game with his players on Friday after he's calmed down. He mentioned an incident after a 3-1 loss to Brighton in January when he kicked a TV in the locker room.
He brought up that incident after this latest setback, as well as the 4-2 win against West Ham in October, when they struggled after seeming to be in control.
"I'm usually pretty consistent in that way," he said. Like that time with Brighton last year. I'll talk to the players.
I always feel—and I think everyone else does too—that we need to score more goals.
Even in the Brighton game (in October), we were up 3-0, and then suddenly we let them score twice. We struggle with that. We’re inconsistent, and we need to get better.
United plays Wolves on Monday, who haven't won a game yet. But they can't take anything for granted after failing to beat West Ham at home.
West Ham plays Brighton on Sunday, and their coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, said, I thought we played well overall.
We defended well in the first half. I think we started the game strong. We combined well, created corners, and had good energy.
The second half was very good, even though we let in a goal. We responded positively, controlled the game, and pushed forward. I think we deserved the tie.
The game could have gone either way, but I'm happy with our performance.
Even when we lost to Liverpool, we competed well. We just made mistakes that cost us.
But we showed character today, so it’s a small step in the right direction. We still have a lot to improve, and it's tough with the pressure we're under, but we'll keep working at it.
ANALYTICAL LOOK: WHY SERGIO RAMOS'S VETERAN PRESENCE IS CRUCIAL FOR STRUGGLING MAN UTD
After an emotional farewell to Monterrey, veteran defender Sergio Ramos is expected to join Manchester United to strengthen their defence.
After saying goodbye to Monterrey fans on Tuesday, Sergio Ramos is likely heading to Manchester United to shore up their defense, ending a career chapter that lasted over two decades.
Word is United has already offered the 39-year-old Ramos a deal and is waiting to hear back. They're looking to bolster their defense, which has struggled lately.
Ramos seems to have timed his exit from the Mexican club well. He posted a thank-you note on social media to the team and supporters.
Saying goodbye is never easy, the former Real Madrid and Spain player said. A chapter ends that began full of hope in February and that has allowed me to find a country, a city, a football... and that leaves me with many new experiences and, above all, many friends.
I will always feel honored to have worn the Rayados captain's armband, to have led the team in the first Club World Cup in its format, to have battled in the Clausura, in the Apertura, in the Leagues Cup, in the CONCACAF Champions Cup... and to have defended the Steel Giant with courage at your side in all the matches we have played at home.
Ramos, a World Cup champion, joined Monterrey as a free agent in February after leaving Sevilla in June 2024, Xinhua reports.
He played 32 games for Monterrey, scoring seven goals. This included four games and one goal at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Ramos announced he was leaving after Monterrey lost to Toluca in the Liga MX Apertura tournament semifinals on Sunday.
"I have given everything on the field and off it to be able to give my best performance... so many emotions that cannot be described in numbers," he said.
To the club, to my dear teammates, to the coaching staff, to the employees, and to everyone, thank you. And above all, thank you, fans, who have made your warmth and your affection reach me from the first moment I set foot in the city. I will always remember this stage of my career with nostalgia, and I will always say, 'Up with Monterrey!'.
WHO REPLACES BRYAN MBEUMO: CUNHA, MOUNT MUST FILL 6-GOAL VOID AFTER AFCON EXIT
Manchester United faces a lineup headache with Mbeumo, Amad, and Mazraoui leaving for AFCON. Amorim's plan involves Yoro returning and banking on a fit Martinez and Sesko.
Manchester United got back on track Monday night, crushing Wolves 4-1 at Molineux. It was a pretty easy game for United; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes with two goals, and Mason Mount all scored. Amad and Noussair Mazraoui also played, but their upcoming absence could be a problem as the holidays get closer.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United: Ruben Amorim press conference
Mbeumo, Amad, and Mazraoui are all heading to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) this month. When they're leaving, exactly is still up in the air. After the Wolves game, Ruben Amorim sounded hopeful they might be around for next Monday's game against Bournemouth. He mentioned the club is talking to the national teams and expects to know more mid-week, viewing the ongoing communication as a positive sign.
Mazraoui's Morocco starts their tournament on Sunday, December 21, the same day United plays Aston Villa in the Premier League. Mbeumo's Cameroon and Amad's Ivory Coast both start their AFCON run a bit later, on Christmas Eve.
Amorim hinted that we should know when they're leaving this week, but the team needs to plan for how they'll play without them right away. With that in mind, here's a look at how United might set up without their African players in the coming weeks...
First, look at the defence. Mazraoui has been starting over Leny Yoro recently. The Frenchman was the main centre-back pick for a while, but after some tough games against Everton and Crystal Palace, he was dropped.
Yoro has been coming off the bench, so he'll likely be back in the starting lineup with Mazraoui gone. When he's healthy, Matthijs de Ligt would usually be in the mix, but Amorim isn't sure when he'll be back. Ayden Heaven is another option, but Lisandro Martinez—a key player before he got hurt—is getting close to being fully fit and could be back in the side.
Next, there’s the right wing-back spot, which Amad currently has. He's been a standout player there this season, fitting into the role really well.
Diogo Dalot has been improving, so the obvious move would be to put him back on the right, his preferred side, and bring Patrick Dorgu back on the left.
Dalot and Dorgu have been sharing time on the left, but Dalot should look more comfortable on the right without Amad. The biggest absence will probably be Mbeumo.
He scored again on Monday and is United's top scorer with six Premier League goals, putting him amongst the top scorers in the league.
Matheus Cunha is back from injury, which is good news! He can play in the No. 10 role with Mason Mount, who's been playing his best soccer since he moved from Chelsea.
That would leave either Joshua Zirkzee or Benjamin Sesko, the usual No. 9, up front, once he's fit. Amorim said last month that Sesko's return would be around the same time as when players leave for AFCON. His agent says he'll be back very soon, but we don't know if the Slovenian will be ready for the first game without the other three. After that, though, he should be leading the attack.
Here's a possible Man Utd starting lineup without the AFCON trio: Lammens; Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Cunha; Sesko