Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim delivered a brutally honest assessment after his side suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to 10-men Everton at Old Trafford, admitting he fears a return to the negative patterns that haunted the club last season.
United failed to capitalise after Everton were reduced to 10 men early in the match, producing a flat and uninspired performance that was met with frustration by the home supporters. Speaking after the loss, Amorim pulled no punches regarding his team’s mentality and lack of intensity.
“The way we started the game as we didn’t understand how we should play against 10 men… Everton deserved to win the game and I’m frustrated,” he said. “The understanding of every situation of the game was not there, and then the quality near the box was not there.”
“When we are not at the top level of intensity you can see that immediately. We cannot win important games in this way,” he added. “I am really frustrated with the way we played the game, at home, with Old Trafford waiting for us to step up.”
The Portuguese coach also expressed concern about slipping back into bad habits, noting that recent praise may have created complacency within the squad.
“These five weeks everyone was praising our evolution and I always said the same thing — we are not near,” he continued. “I feel afraid of returning to this feeling of last season, that is my biggest fear. We need to work way better.”
