MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United are up and working below Ruben Amorim after Rasmus Højlund handed the Portuguese coach his first win in his new job.
On Thursday, Højlund scored twice as United got here from behind to beat Bodø/Glimt 3-2 within the UEFA Europa League at Previous Trafford. The sport will give Amorim hope for the long run and reinforce his feeling that there shall be loads of struggling alongside the best way.
A lot of the optimism will centre round Højlund, who discovered the online both aspect of half-time with two well-taken objectives. His first, with a pointy contact and volley below strain within the penalty space, was notably spectacular. It was essential too, coming simply earlier than the break after United had gone in entrance inside the primary minute by way of Alejandro Garnacho after which conceded two fast objectives.
Amorim stated within the buildup that he is “involved” that United, among the many Premier League‘s lowest scorers this season, don’t rating sufficient objectives. If Højlund can start to search out the online recurrently it’ll definitely make Amorim’s subsequent few weeks and months far smoother.
Amorim may assist Højlund start to stay as much as the mammoth £72 million payment United paid Atalanta for his providers. Underneath earlier boss Erik ten Hag, there have been repeated questions on whether or not the fashion of soccer suited Højlund’s strengths.
Right here he twice benefitted from crosses into the field, the primary from Noussair Mazraoui and the second from Manuel Ugarte. It is the kind of service Højlund craves however hardly ever acquired below Ten Hag.
“I believe he improved the connection [in the team],” Amorim stated afterwards.
“He has to enhance extra as a result of generally he takes too many touches when he holds the ball. However he is crucial for us as a result of he’s the man to carry the ball and join for transitions. He did that very nicely. He has that attribute.
“He was aggressive with the objectives. He was aggressive within the field, and he’s a top quality participant. He scores probably the most troublesome objectives. He has rather a lot to enhance however that’s the identical for each participant. He did an awesome job at the moment.”
Amorim stated he noticed enchancment from his first sport towards Ipswich City and branded the welcome he obtained from Previous Trafford as “particular” after followers unveiled a banner in his honour earlier than kickoff and chanted his title all through the 90 minutes.
It seems like a recent begin, however a number of the previous issues are laborious to shift.
Within the final 18 months of Ten Hag’s reign, United conceded two objectives in 4 minutes at Bayern Munich, two in 10 minutes towards Galatasaray, two in 4 minutes towards Copenhagen, two in 9 minutes towards Galatasaray once more and two in seven minutes towards Porto.
It is proving a tough behavior to shake and in Amorim’s first European sport, they allowed Bodø/Glimt — who introduced greater than 6,000 followers from Norway to Manchester — to attain twice in 4 minutes.
At occasions, it is as if Amorim is making an attempt to tame a wild animal. He stands on the touchline shouting, pointing, pleading. He offers gamers who observe his directions enthusiastic applause and appears demoralised when issues do not play out as anticipated.
He stated in his first information convention since taking the job that these gamers “give the ball away an excessive amount of,” and you could possibly see the power drain away from his physique after they did it twice within the first 5 minutes right here.
After one tried change of play from Mason Mount early within the second half was minimize out by a yellow shirt, Amorim’s shoulders slumped and his chin dropped in the direction of the ground.
He’ll hope that the errors turn into much less and fewer frequent the longer he spends along with his new gamers. That, although, is a part of the issue.
After enjoying on Thursday night time towards Bodø/Glimt, the squad could have a relaxation and restoration day on Friday. The gamers will prepare on Saturday and on Sunday, Everton go to Previous Trafford within the Premier League.
Amorim wants time, however he’ll barely get any in the midst of English soccer’s hectic fixture checklist. United must be taught on the job.
Amorim is studying, too. He could have famous the defensive frailty that was uncovered by Bodø/Glimt and the continued pattern of lacking golden possibilities. Garnacho and Marcus Rashford ought to have each scored within the closing quarter-hour to shut out the sport.
As an alternative, United drained in the direction of the tip and fell again in the direction of their very own purpose regardless of Amorim repeatedly urging his group to defend greater up the pitch. The continued message from the brand new coach is that it is a work in progress and it may take time.
“We improved various things for the reason that final sport,” Amorim stated.
“We enhance with the ball, we management extra of the tempo, we push the group a bit greater and we create extra possibilities. We suffered in two transitions — we should enhance on that — it was like runs however I like some issues the group did.
“I got here from Portugal and half of the stadium would not know me. I’ve performed nothing for this membership but however the best way they help me from the start, I really feel I’m not alone now. I’m one in every of them and I hope to not disappoint them.”
