Amad celebrates at full-time
Amad celebrates at full-time
Ruben Amorim insists Manchester United will be "careful" with derby matchwinner Amad as he continues his development at the club.
Amad, 22, won United the 88th-minute penalty that Bruno Fernandes equalised from and then brilliantly steered in an added-time winner for their first derby win at City since March 2021.
On a day that Amorim made headlines with his decision to omit Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the matchday squad, another winger emerged as United's matchwinner.
"I don’t want to talk about just Amad," Amorim said. "A lot of players here are improving, are working hard, are suffering, and that is a good thing when you suffer.
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"Amad is in a good moment. Erik brought Amad to the first team, Ruud did a great job and we continued with the good moment of Amad and Amad did a great job.
"Now let's be careful with Amad, don’t make the same mistakes we made in the past with the younger guys. Let's push him down a little bit, praise him, but the next game is a new story and he must continue to work hard."
Amorim reserved praise for United centre back Harry Maguire, drafted back into the team to counter Erling Haaland. Maguire, 31, has experience of starting in back threes for United and England at the World Cup and European Championship.
"Magurie is perfect when you play with three defenders in the middle," Amorim explained, "and then the way the striker they have, with the long balls, you need to be really strong. So was perfect for him. Not just Harry, all the guys defended really well, they were really focused and that is the key to play better, so I think they did a great job."
Amorim is refusing to get carried away amid the euphoria of a sweet derby victory. United have moved up to 12th in the Premier League and trail City by five points, having lost both of their league fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal last week.
"I think for the fans it has a deep meaning, especially in this context, in this moment," Amorim opined. "But we had a difficult moment one week ago against Nottingham at home with the storm. Was a really tough moment after the game.
"Today we are happy, but it's three points, we have to continue. Here we don't stop playing. Next week we will have three games, it will change the way we see the game. Today is a good day, let's enjoy for ten minutes and then think about the next game."