Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that Manchester United fans have every right to feel frustrated with some of the negative tactics displayed during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
United were thoroughly outplayed in the first half but managed to go into the break 1-0 ahead thanks to a late free-kick from Bruno Fernandes, which helped ease the growing frustration among the Old Trafford crowd. Fans had held an anti-Glazer protest before the match and were only satisfied when United emerged in the second half with a more proactive approach against Arsenal.
“When you coach Manchester United, you can’t play like that very often,” Amorim admitted after the match. “But the aim is to win, not just to entertain the fans.
“We tried to come up with a way to win the game in the current circumstances. I understand it’s frustrating for the fans. Sometimes we have to do things that aren’t popular. Ultimately, we need the points.”
Amorim also emphasized that Manchester United’s spirit is undeniable, despite the challenges they face.
“I believe this club will never die, that’s clear. You can feel it in the streets, not just in the stadium. This is a massive club, and maybe fans across the league find it harder to go to games and pay for tickets. In the Premier League, we receive a lot of money, and that needs to be addressed.
“It’s a difficult situation, so we want to give our best effort. In the future, we won’t play like this.”
United’s defensive setup was not well received by fans, but Amorim urged them to understand the realities of facing a team like Arsenal in their current state.
“It’s also about the opponent,” he explained. “The last match before the Champions League was against PSV, and they pressed us intensely, man-to-man. That’s harder to manage.
“With the low block, we can control the game better. We also have players who are dangerous in transition. I think [Alejandro] Garnacho played an outstanding game today; he was amazing.
“We tried to pick the right moments to press high. We had chances to win the game.”
