Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United's players are struggling to adapt to his favored 3-4-3 system as the Red Devils prepare for Sunday's match against Brighton.
On Thursday, for the first time, United looked destined to lose four Premier League games in a row at Old Trafford as they trailed bottom club Southampton with 10 minutes to play.
However, Amad Diallo scored a late hat-trick to spare their blushes and maintain their unbeaten start to 2025, following a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in the league and a penalty shoot-out win at Arsenal in the FA Cup.
However, Amorim knows they still have a lot of work to do and pointed out their growing pains in their conversation with TNT Sports after the win in Southampton.
“They are not suited to play like that. With the ball, you saw, we had some patterns,” Amorim said.
“In the end it was good. A very difficult game, a game of two halves. They did a very good job, Southampton, in creating space between the lines.
“We had a lot of trouble stopping them. When they lost their physicality, we found the space to use. The feeling is that we have so much to do – the team is very tired.
“It was a win, it was good, but let's keep going.”
Opponents Brighton also won on Thursday, although they felt much more comfortable with a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town – their first league win since mid-November.
After seeing his team score a point after eight games without a win in the top flight, Fabian Hurzeler said: “It wasn't the best performance from us, but in the end we controlled the game and were stable out of possession.
“We created more chances in the second half, so we deserved to win. I'm happy with it. We suffered in this period and this victory should give us faith and self-confidence.”
“Now we have to prepare for the next challenge. We are happy, but there is only a short time to be happy. We have to focus on the next one.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes has been involved in six goals in his first four Premier League appearances against Brighton (four goals, two assists) and has not scored or assisted in his last six games against the Seagulls.
Brighton – Danny Welbeck
Welbeck and Joao Pedro scored Brighton's goals in their 2-1 win against United earlier this season.
The only Seagulls player to score against the Red Devils both home and away in the same Premier League season is Pascal Gross in 2018/19. After being substituted in midweek, could the former United striker repeat the feat?
MATCH PREDICTION – MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
United have lost five of their last six Premier League games against Brighton (one win), including both meetings at Old Trafford in that series. Only against Manchester City (twice) have they ever lost three times in a row at home in the competition.
Brighton's win percentage against United in the Premier League at 47% is the highest ever recorded by any team in the history of the competition, with the Seagulls triumphing seven times in fifteen meetings.
None of those fifteen games were drawn, while United recorded eight wins. Only Man United versus Wigan Athletic (16 times) has been played without a draw more often in the history of the Premier League.
This will be the sixth time that Brighton have played United in the Premier League while above them in the table, and the last time in a season that they have ever done so. After losing the first two such matches, the Seagulls have now won each of the last three.
However, United should be in high spirits after avoiding the ignominy of suffering four consecutive Premier League defeats on home soil. With Brighton winning just one of their last nine league games, the home side are slight favourites.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Manchester United – 43.5%
Brighton – 29.8%
Draw – 26.8%
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