Manchester United Prepares for Crucial Matches Amidst Optimism and Challenges
Ruben Amorim is looking ahead to Manchester United's return to Premier League action this weekend with renewed optimism.
The team delivered one of their strongest performances under his management, securing a 2-0 victory over Sunderland just before the international break. This win alleviated some of the pressure that had been mounting on the Portuguese head coach following a disappointing defeat to Brentford the previous week.
In support of Amorim, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe noted that it could take three years for the former Sporting coach to make a significant impact at Old Trafford, drawing parallels to Sir Alex Ferguson's early struggles after joining the club in 1986.
However, Amorim is aware that few will take Ratcliffe's assurances seriously if he does not show substantial improvement from last season's 15th-place finish, which marked United's worst top-flight performance since the 1973-74 relegation season.
The win against Sunderland lifted United to 10th place, marking only the second occasion this season that they have finished a match day in the top half of the table. Since Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November of last year, the team has managed just 10 victories in 34 Premier League matches and has yet to win back-to-back league games.
United faces a daunting challenge this Sunday against Liverpool at Anfield, where they have not won since 2016 and had scored only once in their previous eight visits until last season.
Expectations are low for United to secure three points on Merseyside. The real challenges, however, lie in the fixtures that follow: Brighton at home, and away matches against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. These games represent a good opportunity to accumulate points and climb the table towards European qualification, which is the club's stated goal this season and would signify progress.
Yet, in the past two seasons, United has suffered home losses to Brighton and away defeats to both Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, with Amorim at the helm for each of those matches.
Thus, four crucial games await United, beginning with Liverpool, which could significantly influence the direction of their season.
Below is a summary of the upcoming fixtures alongside a recap of last season's performances, including Amorim's assessments and fan reactions.
It is reasonable to expect improved results this time around.
19 October: Liverpool, away (2024-25: 2-2 on 5 January)
Ironically, the most challenging of United's next four fixtures is the only one from which they have earned points in the past two seasons. In January, Lisandro Martinez scored first for United, marking the first time they led at Anfield since Wayne Rooney's goal in 2016. However, Amad Diallo's equalizer secured a draw, despite Harry Maguire missing a late chance to clinch victory.
Amorim remarked, "It is clear: when we are focused, when we fight for every ball, and when we give our all until the end, we are a good team. If we do not maintain that intensity, we will lose games."
Supporter David aptly summed up the match on BBC Sport's fan verdict: "Finally, the real Manchester United showed up. Will we maintain this momentum? I wish I felt more confident about that!"
25 October: Brighton, home (2024-25: 1-3 on 19 January)
The match against Brighton turned into a dismal afternoon, culminating in Amorim's fiery post-match remarks. Brighton has now claimed three consecutive Premier League victories at Old Trafford, and this particular match was especially disappointing. After equalizing from a Bruno Fernandes penalty following a counter-attack, United conceded again when Kaoru Mitoma capitalized on a defensive lapse, and a routine low cross allowed Georginio Rutter to score after goalkeeper Andre Onana failed to handle it.
Amorim expressed frustration, stating, "In our last 10 Premier League matches, we have won only two. Imagine what this means for a Manchester United fan. Imagine how it feels for me. We have a new coach who is losing more than the last. I am fully aware of that. We may be the worst team in Manchester United's history."
Supporter Su shifted the focus away from Onana's error, stating, "Brighton played with intent from the start, while United did not. Discussing Onana's mistake only distracts from the many issues at Old Trafford."
1 November: Nottingham Forest, away (2024-25: 0-1 on 1 April)
United's defeat at the City Ground for the second consecutive season was made worse by Anthony Elanga scoring the winning goal. Elanga, sold to Forest for £15 million after Erik ten Hag did not rate him highly, netted a stunning goal, running 50 yards after United lost possession at a corner before striking from just inside the area.
Amorim lamented, "One transition from our set-piece led to that goal. We cannot afford to concede like that."
Fan Adam criticized Amorim's decisions on BBC Sport's fan verdict: "I hate to repeat myself, but Ruben Amorim got it wrong again. Poor formation, poor player choices, inadequate substitutions, and a lack of adaptability. He is digging his own grave early on."
8 November: Tottenham, away (2024-25: 0-1 on 16 February)
United's most significant defeat against Tottenham under Amorim occurred in the Europa League final in May, which cost them a spot in this season's Champions League. Losing to Spurs was a recurring theme last season, with four defeats, including one in the EFL Cup.
In February, Spurs became the first team to achieve a league double over United since Chelsea in 2012-13, with James Maddison scoring the only goal early in the match. Amorim reflected, "The difference in the game? They scored, and we did not."
Peter's response on BBC Sport's fan verdict was more critical: "No vision, no ambition, no effort."