Ruben Amorim was able to strive for his idol Jose Moruinho by suffocating Arsenal – as show statistics.
The Red Devils manager supervised one of the best versions on his part since he replaced Erik ten Hag earlier this season.
Amorim, 40, does not have much to cheer since he was appointed Manchester United Manager in November.
But the credible 1-1 draw against the title hunt Arsenal in Old Trafford was a measurable improvement compared to recent trips.
During the competition, the hosts took the lead by a stunning Bruno Fernandes-free kick.
A wonderful attack by Declan Rice left Arsenal in the second half, but effectively ruled them from the title race.
The side of Mikel Arteta dominated the ball for a large part of the game, but had trouble creating many clearcut opportunities.
The hosts, on the other hand, created the most dangerous opportunities and had bad luck not to be out of sight by the time the rice struck.
David Raya has made good stops to deny both Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee to keep the difference until just one goal.
After the game, statistics showed that Man United was happy to camp in their own half and to record the Arsenal attack.
From the whole man of the man Utd team, only Alejandro Garnacho had an average position in the opposition half in the course of 90 minutes.
For comparison: every Arsenal player except Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba spent most of the game in Man Utd Territory.
But the tactic of Amorim allowed his side to create space behind the backline of the visitors.
This almost led to goals on multiple occasions, including in the dying moments, because Raya Fernandes denied with a reaction, except the ball on the goal line while it was about to roll in.
After the game, Amorim admitted that he does not regularly want to play a style with a low block, but knew it was necessary to guarantee the best possible outcome in Sunday's game.
He said Sky Sports: “I think we did well. Of course we don't want to play that way [with a low block] Defend so much and give the ball to the opponent.
“But with all the games, all the problems, the characteristics of the players – Lindelof to not let him cover many meters, Casemiro is comfortable in these types of games.
“I tried to adjust and imagine a game that we could win. It is also the opponent.
“The last game for the Champions League was high pressure from PSV, man to man. They are more difficult to make this way.
“We can control the game in the low block and then we have a number of good players in the transition – Garnacho has made a really complete game.
“We try to keep the starting eleven the goal. If you get a goal, the players get tired.
“We try to choose the best moments to press high. If you coach Manchester United, you can't play that way.
“You have to try to win the game. I know it is sometimes frustrating for the fans.
“We have to deal with that and sometimes do things that are not popular.”
Amorim has previously admitted that he is looking up to the former man United Baas Jose Mourinho.
In the past he even got the nickname 'Mourinho 2.0'.
The now Fenerbahce boss enjoyed playing good luck with a low-block and opposing style.
In his splendor he helped people like Inter Milan and Porto to win the Champions League and Chelsea and win the Premier League who played his football.
And the special was demonstrably his most successful period since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
He won the Europa League in the club and led them to a second placed finish in 2017/18 and insisted that it was his most excellent performance.
Arsenal -Manager Mikel Arteta was now frustrated by the playing style of United, despite the fact that it was not dirty to set his own side in the same way when needed.
The Spaniard insisted that his team dominated the competition, but struggled to create in the last third part.
Before he walked out of his interview with Sky Sports, he said: “Very frustrating that we did not win with the dominance and the opportunities we had in the first half.
“We gave the ball out of nowhere. Given a mistake away. We had them in the second half, you could feel that they were really tired.
“It was the threat in the last 25 meters to make something happen.
“They didn't want to play. You come here and you want to win the game. It's frustration.”
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