Ruben Amorim has moved to clarify his comments in the aftermath of Manchester United's 3-1 defeat to Brighton, describing his side as 'arguably the worst ever' in the club's history.
Amorim's comments came after watching them slump to a sixth home league defeat in 12 this season, and his focus was more on the collective than individuals.
A defeat that leaves United in 13th place in the Premier League leaves United fans wondering how long it will be before they see the benefits of the system Amorim is trying to install, with United's players at various areas still look very uncertain.
Amorim said before the match against Liverpool early this month that his players played with fear. The 2-2 draw at Anfield and the subsequent penalty shootout against Arsenal in the FA Cup should have boosted confidence.
Instead, Amorim said his players were still “very nervous” as Brighton secured a third successive win in as many seasons at Old Trafford, days after an unconvincing home win over Southampton.
Ahead of Thursday's Europa League match at home to Rangers, the Portuguese has looked at the consequences of his words following the Seagulls' setback.
'First of all, I want to talk about that [his comment about this Manchester United possibly being the worst-ever side in the club’s history]”, he started.
“I spoke more for myself than for my players because you have to find a coach who starts a job and loses seven games in the first ten. So it was more for me, I talked more about me than about the players.”
“I also said in the same response that I didn't help my players. And if you look around you, every time I talk, and I speak a lot, every time you push, the players are not good enough, I have never place in the foreground.” about my players. So I understand, I gave you that cup.
“And sometimes I'm frustrated. And sometimes I shouldn't put it in those terms, but it is what it is. And that's it.
“Sometimes it is very difficult to hide the frustration at certain moments. But the great thing is that five minutes earlier in the dressing room I said the same things in a different way. So the reaction was very normal, because I am very blunt with my players .
“And they have trained well, they are ready for this match and let's see tomorrow.”
Amorim: I am very direct: we are performing very poorly
United have won just three of 11 league games since Amorim took over as successor to the sacked Erik ten Hag, losing six of them.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher dismissed the majority of the current United team as a “joke” but insisted Amorim's comments could land him in trouble.
Carragher said on Monday Night Football: “I have no time for this Manchester United team. I don't feel the players or their confidence – half of them are a joke anyway.
“But I would be very surprised if the powers above him won't have a very strong word. You don't speak like that as a manager of Manchester United. If you are in a very bad situation then you don't do that.” Do not pour gasoline on the flames.”
So were the comments intended to enliven his players?
“I didn't think so, that's why,” an apologetic Amorim responded on Wednesday. “I'm a young guy and sometimes I can make mistakes, that's why I don't like to talk after the match.
“I had to talk and maybe it was a mistake. And then I get more nervous and I go to the conference very nervous. And then you said things you shouldn't have said.
“And that's it. Sometimes you're a young guy and you make mistakes. And you improve. I don't promise you I won't do it again. I don't know. So I'll try to improve.”
Amorim emphasizes that it is a collective responsibility to reverse the bad start to his term.
“I don't take responsibility for the players,” he continued. “What I'm saying is that the message you showed was that I put it on the players.
“What I said is that you have to look very hard to find a team like Manchester United that loses seven games in ten games. And that's on me. Because it's the same players who are doing worse with a new coach.”
“That's my only concern at the moment. But I don't take anything from the players. What I'm saying is that we have to improve on the details, and I have explained that.”
“The way we play, we are too nervous with the ball. Too nervous, very anxious. And then when you have a little experience with this game, when you fall into this kind of context, it is very difficult to go up .” .
“Especially when you're at a big club. So that was my only point. Was this the best point to do it after that loss, the way I do it?”
“Maybe not, but it is what it is. And that's how I am all the time. So I don't take responsibility from the players.”
“I say: I am really very direct in things. I say that we are performing very poorly at the moment. And our results are really bad right now.
“So it's everything, everything together. The players, the staff, the coaching staff. So I take responsibility.
“I'm just pointing out that I am the biggest responsible for the performance and the results because I am the coach and I have that responsibility.”
Amorim: It's becoming increasingly difficult to play at Old Trafford
The defeat to Brighton was United's sixth at Old Trafford this season, remarkably the most in their first twelve home games since the 1893–94 season.
United were relegated on that occasion after finishing bottom of the First Division, one of the few seasons that mean their current side is not – statistically at least – the worst in their entire history.
Amorim believes that his team currently suffers mainly when they play in front of their own supporters at Old Trafford.
“I think that's clear. I could say different things and say: no, no, it's the same. We have the support of the fans. No, we are more nervous when we play at home than away because we lost a lot. ” games, like four games in five.
“So it's becoming more and more difficult. But we can improve. I think if we don't get the first goal, like in the fourth minute, and I remember it's the fourth minute, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, and then it's very difficult to calm the team down.
“So the first thing I think about is that they can't score. We have to score the first. If we score the first, I think that will change and we will play better at home in the beginning.”
“So that's it. I think it's very clear. We are very anxious to play, especially at home.
“And we are conceding goals and then it is very difficult. So I think it is clear to everyone that it is becoming increasingly difficult to play at Old Trafford.”
Analysis: Amorim admits that there was a mistake in the honesty message
Ben Ransom from Sky Sports News in Carrington:
Ruben Amorim knows the power of words and how they go further when you are head coach of Manchester United.
A few weeks ago he warned United fans that a storm was coming, and on Sunday, after a fourth defeat in five home games, he gave us the 'box-office' headline about this United team that might 'do it worst in the club's history. club'.
He expected to have to explain those comments on Wednesday and he got the chance right at the start of the press conference when I asked him how his words had reached the players.
He went out of his way to make it clear that he was talking about himself and his own record, rather than trying to criticize his players for yet another sub-par performance.
The fascinating dynamic of hearing him was that Harry Maguire, no stranger to critical questions himself, was sitting at the same press conference table.
Maguire seemingly nodded in agreement as Amorim tried to backtrack on some of the things he said in the heat of yet another defeat at Old Trafford, all the while trying to get the message across that they need to do better.
A series of tough questions followed to both the head coach and the former captain, and the collective message was one of apparent honesty.
Amorim's biggest admission came when he said he had made a mistake in the way he spoke to his players in the dressing room immediately after the Brighton defeat, and that this was due to the emotions of the youth.
He hopes to be able to say more positive words on Thursday evening after the next assignment at Old Trafford, in the Europa League against Rangers.
Maguire: Giving in first is about not being mentally focused
Maguire said he had no complaints about his head coach's approach and said it was up to the team to take responsibility for United's situation.
There is no shortage of experience or caliber at United, but that is not reflected in a team that has struggled to adapt to Amorim's system.
There was a sense that they were making progress after a 2-2 draw against Liverpool and the FA Cup penalty shootout against Arsenal, but that has largely disappeared after a poor performance at home to Southampton, saved by Amad Diallo's late cap. -trick – before the loss to Brighton.
“If I could explain it, I think we could change it straight away,” Maguire said of United's problems. “We have players who have played countless matches internationally and won many trophies in club football.
“But at the moment we are not playing well enough as a team and that is reflected in the rankings. So I can only go on and on about it. We have to take responsibility as players.”
But discussing why United have so often conceded the first goal at home, the 31-year-old said: “You have to go into the game focused and mentally ready to go and win a football match.
“Football matches are sometimes defined by small margins and at the moment we are not hitting those small margins because we are not mentally focused enough to make sure they go our way.”
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