Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United
Ruben Amorim suffered his first defeat at Old Trafford
Before Nottingham Forest arrived at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim had a couple of glimpses of the size of his task.
But the sight of Forest players dancing with delight in front of their fans after a first win at Old Trafford in 30 years truly rammed home the magnitude of the job facing United’s new head coach. A truly shocking seven-minute second half defensive collapse left Amorim tasting a first home defeat.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana, culpable for a clanger that gave Forest a 2-1 lead, was a main culprit but there were plenty of others on a night to forget for United. A late cavalry charge and siege of Forest’s goal couldn’t rescue a point as United followed up their defeat at Arsenal with another loss.
Amorim says he’s close to knowing his best team and his line-up against Forest was maybe as close to that as he can get with Luke Shaw once again a long-term casualty It meant a full debut for £52million defensive summer signing Leny Yoro, who came on during the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.
[
Ruben Amorim told he has his own Ryan Giggs despite Man Utd defeat by Nottingham Forest](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/amorim-man-utd-giggs-amad-34270878)
But the spotlight was more on the longer-standing, under-performing United stars with Amorim laying bare the deep-lying problems he’s found since arriving at Old Trafford. The new head coach has claimed the work-rate of his team is sub-standard, saying they had to run ‘like mad dogs’ to be title winning contenders.
They can run as hard and far as they like, but when you give away goals like Forest’s second minute opener it undermines everything. Nikola Milenkovic’s powerful header from Elliot Anderson’s out-swinging corner was just too easy and once again exposed United’s vulnerability to defend set pieces.
Just like at Arsenal, United showed they are hopelessly ill-equipped to deal with corners fired into the heart of their six yard box. Once again they looked like rabbits in the headlights as a flurry of Forest corners caused wide-spread panic.
Ruben Amorim hasn't got his instructions over to his players yet
The early setback can’t have helped Amorim’s pre-match planning but United’s wounded stars provided a quick response which, initially at least, seemed positive. Within moments Mats Sels pulled off a fine close range save to deny Rasmus Hojlund after a penetrating Alejandro Garnacho cross and Amad’s shot after a Bruno Fernandes corner picked him out was blocked.
An equaliser was coming and it duly arrived via some clever inter-play after Matthijs de Ligt beat the press. A flick from Fernandes released Manuel Ugarte who slid a pass into Garnacho.
Sels was quickly out to block only to see the ball fall for Hojlund who steered it home. United fans hoped that would be the cue for a dominant performance. But Forest don’t lack confidence under Nuno Espirito Santos and sensed their own opportunities.