Ruben Amorim insists Man United’s set-piece struggles are his responsibility

Ruben Amorim accepted responsibility for Manchester United's latest setback as they suffered defeat at home to Bournemouth.

Amorim in particular took the blame for conceding another goal from a set piece after Dean Huijsen headed the visitors ahead from a free kick in the first half.

Amorim made the decision to take over the responsibilities from United coach Andreas Georgson and hand them to his former Sporting Lisbon assistant Carlos Fernandes, but this was the seventh time in six games that one goal against his team led to a goal.

'The responsibility for everything lies with me, not with Carlos. “We are a team in good times and bad times,” he said.

'We have again suffered from set pieces and we have to improve. We have a way of doing things. We are working on that and we are going to improve, but we didn't lose because of set pieces, we lost because we created more chances and we didn't score and then they can score anything against us at the moment.

'One set piece makes us more nervous, the whole stadium. I felt it from the first minute, there is a lot of fear. We have to concentrate on the work and not on what you feel in the stadium.

“It's my responsibility to coach them. Of course we want to improve. Everything is so difficult right now.

'I always expected the job at United to be tough, especially in these busy months. We are ready to take on the challenge.'

Amorim left Marcus Rashford out of his squad for the third game in a row after the player responded to his withdrawal from last weekend's Manchester derby by saying he wants a new challenge in his career.

“It's my decision and it always will be,” said the United head coach. 'It's selection. I want to see the best from my players and I try different things with different players. That's my focus.'

Asked if Rashford could return to Wolves on Boxing Day, Amorim said: 'It depends. We'll see.'

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola paid tribute to teenager Huijsen who also headed the decisive goal against Tottenham from a corner earlier this month.

“He believes in himself in these types of stadiums,” Iraola said. “The way he has come into the team and performed, his confidence is remarkable. We're not a very big team, but with Dean we can exploit these (set-pieces) a little bit.

'It was a good performance; different from last season, firmer and more mature.

'The match was more of a draw than 3-0, but we defended well, especially on set plays that were dangerous due to the wind. We came back stronger in the second half and got the job done.”

Iraola refused to get carried away despite seeing his team move up to fifth in the table. “I appreciate the points we have,” he added. 'Everyone is very close in the rankings. If United had won they would have been in front of us. It's a matter of one or two games.'

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