Ruben Amorim was left to ponder how far away his Manchester United side is from their desired level, as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Everton. A year on since he took the reins, Amorim has been warning about this potential downfall, and it seems his words have come true.
For 77 minutes, with the game hanging in the balance, United watched their players struggle under pressure. Young defenders Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro gave away the ball carelessly, allowing Everton to build attacking momentum. The normally reliable Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes failed to execute their chances effectively, while Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo were unable to press their claims for more game time.
The turning point came when goalkeeper Senne Lammens made a questionable attempt to save Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's first-half effort, which ultimately proved decisive. Despite some late pressure from United, including a header from Zirkzee that forced Jordan Pickford into a full-length save, the visitors held on for the win.
"We are not there, not even near the point we should be to fight for the best positions in the league," Amorim said after the game. "We have a lot to do and we need to be perfect to win games. We were not perfect today." This is a familiar refrain for United fans, who have grown accustomed to their team being unable to close out matches.
Amorim's comments come at a time when his side are 10th in the table, just three points off the top four. Despite spending ยฃ250m in the summer on new signings, it remains unclear what this Manchester United team is capable of.
"We need to work together," Amorim said. "We are going to work together. The players are trying, but we need to be better." It's a message that echoes his initial warnings about the team's readiness for the season. Can United get back on track and find their desired level? Only time will tell.
For 77 minutes, with the game hanging in the balance, United watched their players struggle under pressure. Young defenders Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro gave away the ball carelessly, allowing Everton to build attacking momentum. The normally reliable Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes failed to execute their chances effectively, while Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo were unable to press their claims for more game time.
The turning point came when goalkeeper Senne Lammens made a questionable attempt to save Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's first-half effort, which ultimately proved decisive. Despite some late pressure from United, including a header from Zirkzee that forced Jordan Pickford into a full-length save, the visitors held on for the win.
"We are not there, not even near the point we should be to fight for the best positions in the league," Amorim said after the game. "We have a lot to do and we need to be perfect to win games. We were not perfect today." This is a familiar refrain for United fans, who have grown accustomed to their team being unable to close out matches.
Amorim's comments come at a time when his side are 10th in the table, just three points off the top four. Despite spending ยฃ250m in the summer on new signings, it remains unclear what this Manchester United team is capable of.
"We need to work together," Amorim said. "We are going to work together. The players are trying, but we need to be better." It's a message that echoes his initial warnings about the team's readiness for the season. Can United get back on track and find their desired level? Only time will tell.