One game done and another is on the horizon. Just like that.
After the much-needed win over the Saints, Ruben Amorim will be looking for some more consistency on Sunday for the visit of Brighton. Three games this year have seen his side draw one and win two which helps in building that momentum and consistency he desperately needs.
The Seagulls will be another test and he will need another big shift from his players though.
Amorim says that the best thing to do to help his players is to remain calm and "try to explain the things we need to change." He believes that some players were "tired" in the win over Southampton despite their best efforts although he admitted that his team did not play well.
The Man Utd manager was seen early out of the dressing during halftime and said that the reason for that early re-emergence was to give instructions to Antony before his substitution as soon as the game restarted.
On the Brazilian's future, the boss said that he would like to keep his players but that "I don't know what is going to happen this window." He added that Antony did a good job for his 45 minutes last night.
We should be expecting ups and downs until the end of the season says Amorim. "It will be a little bit of a rollercoaster." Since he arrived in Manchester, the Portuguese has regularly spoken about time on the training ground and once again mentioned that his side's results could also depend on how much work they can do at Carrington.
He cites the importance of beating Rangers next Thursday in the Europa League as an opportunity for United to completely remove two games from the schedule as should they win, the Red Devils will be guaranteed to finish in the top 8 of this season's competition and qualify straight through to the round of 16 without having to play a playoff. This will then give them a full week of training.
The 39-year-old says that out of his 14 games so far, he's only had seven training sessions with his players, which makes things "really hard."
Talking about one of his former Sporting players Manuel Ugarte, Amorim hits back at the media saying that they are focused on his comments about the Uruguayan. The manager says that his midfielder was tired after the two grueling games at Liverpool and Arsenal which could explain his early substitution for Toby Collyer yesterday.
Amorim also believes that Ugarte and captain Bruno Fernandes were the two best players against Liverpool, two players who didn't play against Newcastle just six days earlier giving them extra time to rest.
However, the manager thinks that over time, Ugarte will get used to the hectic schedule in England of playing a game every couple of days which is part of the reason why the midfielder was tired in last night's match.
He says that he will prepare the games in the same manner despite not knowing whether some players will be here or not after January.
Amorim believes that it's a "team problem" when it comes to lack of goals and not just on one player like Rasmus Hojlund who hasn't scored in any of his last eight games. The lack of goals is "a problem from the past." There is a lack of a threat from his team as well.
United have built the reputation of being a team that prefers to play on the counter and in transition and could be a reason as to why they looked better against teams like Liverpool and Arsenal who have to take the initiative rather than when MUFC have to against lesser opponents like Southampton. Amorim believes that this is a problem from the past and that to create chances in the final third, "we struggle a lot."
However, he did add that trying to train his team to breakdown low blocks is a lot harder to coach. Once again, more training would be ideal for him to change this problem.
Final Thoughts
The difference a week's training made to the team ahead of both games at Liverpool and Arsenal was clear to see. The players not only looked a lot fresher but also seemed to have more of an understanding of what Amorim wants from them.
I suppose the fact that the pressure was more on those teams rather than us did help United and allowed us to play this more tranistional game rather than having to breakdown a low block which as the manager said, has been a weakness of ours for the last few years.
I can see what he's trying to do but it will take time and I agree that there will definitely be more games like Newcastle and Wolves as well as what we saw at City and Liverpool.
Maybe angry is not the right word but I'm sure he would've been very frustrated and disappointed with what he saw from his players in the first half last night. We know that that performance was shite and I don't think he needed to explain that to them.
I don't know how long he spoke to Antony for but whenever the manager comes out before his team at the start of the second half, it always sends a message that he is not happy.
Maybe he didn't say anything at all like in a recent game. Sometimes, that is enough.
Ugarte has been one of our best players this season and been one of our best since Amorim has come in. But everyone needs to remember he is a new signing and he's also just 23. It will take time for him but much like many others. Playing these amounts of games so quickly will take a toll on the body.
Some like Bruno, have this uncanny ability to be able to play constantly without problems. Not everyone is like that and Amorim will know Ugarte better than most after their time together in Portugal. Maybe he knows how much the midfielder can take before he needs to have a break.
This is probably the reason why he took him off pretty early yesterday because Ugarte does put a real shift in whenever on the field. The man is kind of a beast with the way he tracks players down and covers ground. Sometimes, I believe he's left by himself and has to do the job of two players which is too much to handle resulting in him having to overwork.
I have no problem with Ugarte or the way Amorim is treating him.
Lack of goals and specifically for the striker isn't something new at United. Hojlund is just the next victim in a long list of players who hardly received chances to score.
However, the overall game of the Dane has been very lackluster this season, that is where the concern lies. He seems to be a bit low on confidence resulting in him not doing the basics of what is needed of a striker. He deserved to come off against Southampton but we must also remember, Hojlund starts and finishes most games. Fatigue could be something else that is causing this poor form.
Perhaps some time on the bench is what is needed for him.
The manager probably didn't want to single him out and instead pointed out that the whole team needs to improve rather than just him, even if it is true. Singling him out would've done Hojlund's confidence no good.
Background Image: Ruben Amorim in Man Utd training | Creator: Alex Livesey | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Man Utd News