Ruben Amorim feels his Manchester United players need to focus on their performance after being held to a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.
The Reds had to settle for a point at Craven Cottage in their first away match of the Premier League season. Both goals came in the second period, as Leny Yoro’s header, which deflected in off Rodrigo Muniz, was cancelled out by Emile Smith Rowe’s finish.
Speaking to the club media via the club website after the game, Amorim admitted that while the effort was there, his players allowed the result to weigh too heavily on their approach in key moments. Softfootball understands that the United boss is keen to instill a mentality shift that prioritises composure and control over chasing outcomes.
He said:
“I think we can do better but we are putting in the effort so that is the most important thing for me. I think in some moments we did well, especially in the beginning of the game. I felt that after the goal, we were thinking about the result, just the result.
This team needs to win games so we need to focus on the performance, what we need to do because if we think about the results, we forget to do the normal things.
That was my feeling – we were okay until the [Fulham] goal. We scored a goal and we should do the opposite – so have more possession, push the opponent more but I think we were not smart in that moment.”
Amorim’s words showed his belief that United’s struggles are not really about desire to win and more about their decision-making under pressure. He pointed out that once his team went ahead one goal up, they should have tightened their hold on the game rather than being more conservative.
The Portuguese manager also emphasised that his team must learn how to manage games efficently, if they are to remain consistent throughout the season. By focusing more on tactical awareness, Amorim hopes his team can turn performances like the one against fulham into three points instead of frustrating draws.
