Ruben Amorim’s post-match comments after Manchester United’s defeat to Brighton made the headlines over the weekend.
The Manchester United head coach reacted angrily after the Reds were defeated 3-1 against Brighton in the Premier League.
Brighton deserved the result because Manchester United were second-best in every department. It was the type of performance that warranted backlash from the manager because it meant United remained in the bottom half of the table.
“In 10 games in the Premier League, we won two,” Amorim told reporters via Sky Sports.
“Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United. Imagine what this is for me. So we are getting a new coach that is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that.
“Like I said, I’m not going to change, no matter what. I know we can succeed, but we need to survive this moment. Because I’m not naive and I know that we need to survive now.
“We are being the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United. I know that you want headlines, but I’m saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go, your headlines.”
The Reds will aim to get back to winning ways on Thursday night when they take on Rangers in the Europa League. United are unbeaten in the competition this season, whereas the Gers have lost one game against Lyon.
Ruben Amorim admits mistake
The infamous quote from the weekend dominated Amorim’s pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Amorim felt the need to explain his reaction in greater detail after being taken out of context by the media.
The head coach insists this was a reflection of their poor record under him, rather than a criticism of United’s first team.
“First of all, I want to talk about that,” Amorim told reporters at his press conference.
“I was talking more about myself than for my players. It’s more for me, talking more about me than the players.
“If you look around when I speak, every time you push about the players not being good enough, I take the spotlight away from my players.
“I understand I gave you that headline but I get frustrated sometimes.”
The reporters tried to twist Amorim’s response again by suggesting he stipping the squad of responsibility.
He added: “I’m not taking responsibility away from the players, what I’m saying is the message you guys show is I’m putting it on the players. In this moment, we are performing really bad and our results are really bad in the moment. It’s everything together, the players, the staff, and I’m the biggest responsible for the results.”
Amorim urges Manchester United to overcome storm
The storm is worsening around Old Trafford and United cannot afford another defeat on Thursday night.
Defeat would dent United’s bid to qualify for the Europa League round of 16, but the same applies to Rangers.
Amorim believes an early goal would swing the game in United’s favour, so long as they can see out the game, before building on it in the next league fixture against Fulham.
“The most important thing is to think we can improve right away in the next match,” Amorim said.
“Imagine tomorrow we don’t suffer a goal at the start, we score and play well, it will change the environment here and everything. We are going to suffer and for me, that was really clear. It’s getting really hard.”
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