Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was frustrated after the Red Devils lost to Aston Villa.
There are always games during the season like the one Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
Specifically, we mean tough away fixtures against an in-form team, where several players are unavailable, and then you suffer even more bad luck with injuries.
When your luck is out, your luck is out. And despite a stirring performance, Manchester United fell short against Villa, who have now won their 10th game in a row.
United were without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, while Bruno Fernandes suffered an injury and needed to be substituted at half-time.
The Red Devils lost the game 2-1, after a brace from in-form midfielder Morgan Rogers.
Ruben Amorim says Manchester United were unlucky
Ruben Amorim’s assertion after Manchester United’s defeat summed up the frustration with the performance.
He told his press conference: “I think we were the better team today. We were unlucky, even with the injury of Bruno, but, during the game, even without him, we were the better team.
“We blocked the transitions quite well and they did really well. We did a very good job that no-one is going to remember tomorrow because what matters is the result.”
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He doubled down on these comments, further adding: “I think we deserved so much more today but the better team did not win.
“I saw, from the beginning of the season, a team that is going forward, but sometimes relax a little bit and, sometimes, is not there in the right moment to fight.
“Today was completely the opposite, we were the better team against a team that is strong at home and in a very good run. We were really unlucky today.”
Yes, United are unlucky – but being better and losing is a problem
Ruben Amorim’s comments sound like a microcosm of Manchester United’s season.
Let’s go back to the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on the opening day. Manchester United were the better team, and lost.
And the 1-0 home loss to Everton. Another game in which we dominated, and lost.
In recent weeks we have thrown away points with draws against West Ham and Bournemouth, which we really should have won.
Games against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham also saw United largely dominate, just losing control for very short periods, and paying the price.
And those are the games where you really have to get the points on the board, when everybody is fit.
That’s because there will always be matches like the Villa one, where injuries, suspension and availability conspire against you, and make winning nearly impossible.
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You could stomach the 2-1 loss at Villa in these circumstances if we had won our home games against Everton, West Ham, and Bournemouth.
Instead we are looking at a flawed team that cannot really blame bad luck. There’s more to it than bad fortune.
United lack concentration defensively, and lack a cutting edge up front.
There are now increasing problems in midfield due to a lack of availability, and no easy answers.
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In the past, United have gone to Villa Park, played poorly, and found a way to win. And that did not really lead to sustained success long-term.
We have to hope that the good performances will translate into good results, even if it is not until next season.
Amorim is convinced there is progress being made. But for fans, this is not translating into the level of improvement we really want to see.
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