Ruben Amorim's positive start hit a stumbling block with the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal
However, in an encouraging sign, he feels he knows his best XI fairly well by now
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By CHRIS WHEELER
Published: 09:27 EST, 6 December 2024 | Updated: 09:32 EST, 6 December 2024
Ruben Amorim has warned that Manchester United must learn to manage expectations after suffering their first defeat under him at Arsenal in midweek.
A 2-0 loss at the Emirates and other results in the Premier League have seen United drop back into 13th place ahead of Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Although the top half of the table is congested and only seven points separate United from fourth-placed Manchester City, Amorim is wary that the club cannot afford to get too up or down as he seeks greater consistency.
‘It's hard because it's a very competitive this league and changes all the time with just one result,’ said Amorim. ‘Sometimes with progress you're doing so much and you get this kind of result.
‘We have to pass this phase because before the Arsenal game you were asking about the top-four and now we return to this position. We have to manage expectation; bad result, be calm and continue doing the job that we are doing.
‘If you see nowadays, in one week you have three games, and that can change the image, the perception, of the team and the table. One week can change a lot and we need to have consistency in the job. The result you don't control, but you need to win three matches to see a big gap in the table.’
Ruben Amorim has warned Manchester United to 'manage expectations' after their Arsenal loss
United were bested by two set-piece goals as Amorim suffered his first defeat as manager
Amorim has made a number of changes for each of his four games in charge to try and get his ideas across to the players, but believes that he is closer to knowing his best team.
‘More or less, yes,’ he added. ‘You have an idea but we had the problem of players returning without training and you have to manage the load. We always have the same problem and with Bruno Fernandes: you feel against Arsenal he was a little bit tired, but you know he is going to recover very well. Manu (Ugarte) sometimes needs a little bit more time. We are in the process but we are getting closer to an idea, yes.
‘I think that is a key point for us, and we have to understand our supporters, just in two weeks, four matches, they just want to see effort, then they want to win games and after a while we win games, they will want to see a very dominant team. These are the phases we have to follow. Effort is easy, full sprint back and forward, so that is a key point and our focus is on that.’
Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo will return to the squad against Forest after serving one-match suspensions, but Amorim revealed that Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are still unavailable, along with Luke Shaw who has been ruled out for several weeks.
‘Jonny's still not training. Victor returned to training but is not available for tomorrow, maybe the next game,’ said the United boss. ‘Licha and Kobbie Mainoo return for the team so we are prepared for the game.’
Manchester UnitedRuben Amorim