Ruben Amorim has given his Manchester United players an instruction that Marcus Rashford seemingly wouldn't be too happy about if he were still part of the Portuguese coach's squad
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim has issued his players a controversial instruction
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Image: Getty Images)
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In football, small decisions can have big ramifications.
Superstition is as much a part of the game as half-time pies, but it doesn't always lead to a consensus – especially at Manchester United. Not for the first time this season, Ruben Amorim and Marcus Rashford find themselves on opposite sides of the aisle – this time, over which end of Old Trafford United should attack first if they win the coin toss.
According to The Athletic, Amorim has instructed his players to shoot towards the Stretford End – typically United's loudest stand – in the first half. This is because statistics show they tend to score less, concede more, and pick up fewer points when attacking the Stretford End after the break.
Rashford, however, has spoken in the past about the impact facing the Stretford End has "when you are suffering", arguing that the roar of the crowd gives players an extra boost, especially when they're running on fumes. "It is an amazing feeling: second-half, going and playing towards that Stretford End," he told MUTV in 2023.
"When you are tired and you are in pain and you are suffering, you want to be going towards that Stretford End. 100 per cent."
With United staring down the barrel of their worst domestic finish to a season in over 50 years, Amorim seems prepared to try anything to reverse their fortunes. While choosing to attack the Stretford End first might feel counterintuitive, the statistics paint an undeniable picture.
Since the 2016/17 season, United have averaged 2.3 points per game when facing the Stretford End first, compared to 1.8 when doing so in the second half. The difference extends to goals as well – the club have scored 2.2 per game when attacking the Stretford End first, versus 1.7 when attacking it after the break.
Marcus Rashford playing for Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford has spoken in the past about the lift he gets from attacking the Stretford End in the second half
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Image:
CameraSport via Getty Images)
Defensively, the trend continues, with United conceding just 0.8 goals per game in the first-half Stretford End setup, compared to 1.1 when playing that way in the second half.
Amorim also believes that attacking the Stretford End first could help United's habit of starting matches slowly. Of their 28 Premier League games this season, the Red Devils have conceded first in 17 of them, and have gone on to lose 12.
They've also been beaten seven times at home already this term – more than the club have ever suffered in a single Premier League season before.
Ruben Amorim walking out on the Old Trafford pitch
Ruben Amorim wants his Man Utd side to attacking the Stretford End in the first half
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Image:
Getty)
Rashford, who fell out with Amorim after being left out the Manchester derby in December, left United to join Aston Villa in January, temporarily ending his 20-year association with the club. He's made a bright start to life at Villa Park, with four assists in his first nine matches, though is yet to get on the scoresheet. His improved form, however, has earned him an England recall for Thomas Tuchel's squad this month.
Villa face United at Old Trafford on the final day of the season, though Rashford will play no part in the fixture as he'll be ineligible to feature due to the terms of his loan agreement. On Wednesday, the 27-year-old helped his new club book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals following their 3-0 win over Club Brugge, which confirmed a 6-1 aggregate victory.
They will face PSG in the last eight, and victory there would set up a semi-final clash with either Arsenal or Real Madrid. United, meanwhile, trounced Real Sociedad 4-1 on Thursday to seal a 5-2 aggregate win, as well as passage to the Europa League quarters, where they'll face Lyon.
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