Guernsey Press

Season will be a rollercoaster, Ruben Amorim warns as Man United battle for form

Amad Diallo’s stunning 12-minute hat-trick rescued United from potential embarrassment against basement side Southampton.

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Ruben Amorim has warned Manchester United’s campaign will continue to be a “rollercoaster” as players try to adjust to his system mid-season.

It took a stunning 12-minute hat-trick from Amad Diallo for United to come from behind late on and beat Premier League basement boys Southampton 3-1 on Thursday night, after a first half in which the optimism from good recent results away to Liverpool and Southampton threatened to disappear.

Even in victory, the need for a late fightback left big questions for United given they were up against a side with only six points from 21 Premier League games, on course for the worst campaign in league history.

“I think it’s going to be hard until the end of the season,” Amorim said. “It’s going to be a little bit that rollercoaster. Then it depends on the time you have to train. We are still in the cup and we have UEFA games for the Europa League.

“Then it’s important also to focus on next Thursday (when Rangers visit Old Trafford) to win and to try to be in that top eight. In that way you can take two games from the schedule and have a full week so we are trying to do everything at the same time.

“We had seven trainings together in 14, 15 games. It’s really hard, but we have to continue and try to win it. Sometimes playing good, sometimes playing bad. We will try to win games.”

Amorim bluntly admitted United did not play well against the Saints, and suggested a number of players in his squad were tired, mentioning by name the big money summer signing Manuel Ugarte whose own goal late in the first half put Southampton on top.

Manchester United v Nottingham Forest – Premier League – Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim said summer signing Manuel Ugarte was “tired” (Martin Rickett/PA)

Asked if it was a concern that a player who could cost United £50million was struggling to meet the demands of the schedule, Amorim said: “The players will get used to that. I’m trying to be honest with you guys. I talk openly about the game. You are focused on what I said about Ugarte.

“Ugarte was tired because he did a great job against Liverpool. If you look at the game against Arsenal, maybe Ugarte and Bruno (Fernandes) were the best players against Liverpool. They didn’t play against Newcastle. I think that happens with all players in the Premier League.”

Thursday was another night without a goal for Rasmus Hojlund, who was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee after 53 minutes.

Manchester United v Southampton – Premier League – Old Trafford
Rasmus Hojlund had another frustrating night against Southampton (Martin Rickett/PA)

“I think it’s a team problem,” Amorim said. “You can see it, it’s not just from now, it’s from the past so we have clearly a lack of goals and a lack of threat. When you threaten the opponents, the opponents maybe don’t press you so high. So everything is connected.

“All the players have moments in this season. I think when we started this journey together, Rasmus was the player that was always scoring. So he can come back in the next game, we will see. But I think it’s more a team problem than a Rasmus problem.”

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