Ruben Amorim has sent a clear warning to his Manchester United players about two Brighton stars ahead of a crucial fixture at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are on a rare high at the moment, after winning back-to-back Premier League matches under Ruben Amorim for the first time.
A comfortable 2-0 win over Sunderland got the ball rolling before United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, but there’s no icing on the cake just yet because Amorim is demanding the same level of performance when the Red Devils host Brighton this evening.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
As things stand in the Premier League table, United are ninth but one point better off than Brighton after eight matches. It’s been a slow start to the season for both teams, who will have plenty of respect for one another.
Furthermore, United would be naïve to underestimate Brighton because the Seagulls did the double over Amorim’s side last term.
Yankuba Minteh competing with Diogo Dalot for the ball
Photo by IAN HODGSON/AFP via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim names threatening Brighton duo
Amorim would have spent the week studying Brighton as United’s upcoming opposition, knowing they have multiple players who can hurt any team.
Fabian Hürzeler’s side have failed to score in only two of their last 24 away league games, with two wins from their last three outings, including a 2-1 win over Newcastle last weekend.
More United News
Brighton have also won on their previous three trips to Old Trafford.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim named two Brighton players he wants his players to be wary of when the game kicks off due to the danger they pose in attacking positions.
They are Brighton’s two wingers: Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma.
Amorim said: “We can not get nervous if they have the ball sometimes. We need to be focused on set pieces. We need to know that Minteh and Mitoma are going to run behind. All these small things.
“We try to show to the players for them to be ready. If they are ready to go to the game, they will play better because they don’t need to think so much during the game.”
Another player United ought to be careful of is former striker Danny Welbeck.
Welbeck has scored six goals against United since leaving Old Trafford in 2014.
Interestingly, United have been linked with other players in Hürzeler, but they were not mentioned by Amorim.
Carlos Baleba was subject to United interest in the summer, and Brighton signed a wonderkid watched by the Red Devils in the summer.
This could be an audition for Baleba after starting the season in poor form.
Kaoru Mitoma a doubt for Brighton’s trip to Man Utd
Fortunately for Amorim and his players, there is a chance Brighton will be without Mitoma this evening.
Hürzeler stressed in his pre-match press conference that Brighton will make a late decision on Mitoma’s availability for the game.
“Kaoru Mitoma is helpful for us in every game, because he has special qualities, always dangerous for opponents,” Hürzeler said.
“If he is not available, I am sure we will find solutions, but he is a game changer for us.”
Mitoma has been absent for the previous two matches with an ankle injury.