Ruben Amorim was disappointed that Manchester United failed to win back-to-back matches in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday night as Ruben Amorim’s side look set to remain in the bottom half of the table.
Three points for Forest means they’ve strengthened their hold on a Champions League spot as they remain third, four points behind Arsenal in second place.
Former United winger Anthony Elanga scored a lightning goal in the 5th minute to give Forest the lead. The Reds did everything but score in response as they recorded their 13th defeat in the league this season.
United weren’t abysmal by any means. They were the better side for most of the game, creating more chances but none were clear-cut.
Diogo Dalot hit the crossbar in the first half, while Alejandro Garnacho sent most of his efforts either high or wide. The best chance in the second half came from Mason Mount just minutes after making his return (first game since December 2024) from the bench.
Elanga’s solo goal proved enough to earn Nuno Espirito Santo’s side an important set of three points.
Furthermore, it helped Forest achieve their first league double over United since 1992 under Brian Clough.
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
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Manchester United deserved more against Nottingham Forest
Manchester United registered 23 shots compared to Nottingham Forest’s 8, which proves the hosts were more clinical in front of goal.
To make matters worse, just six of United’s attempts at goal were on target.
Amorim pointed out how United tend to register plenty of shots on goal, but they’ve been unable to convert those chances, as seen against Forest.
The United head coach also stated that his side deserved to take more from the game, which they controlled from the 5th minute onwards.
“We controlled the game, but we already knew this team can score goals out of nothing,” Amorim told TNT Sports during a live broadcast after the match. “When they scored we changed the game a little bit from what they want.
“We tried with good opportunities, but in the last thing, the last pass, the last assist wasn’t there. Then if we don’t have that we cannot score goals.
“This season is like that. We have a lot of shots on goal, we pushed the opponent to the last third, but in the last third we had a lack of quality.
“We need to win games and we deserved more in this game, that is clear, but it is our fault and we need to be better in the final third. We should have won this game, not even drawn, but in the end we have lost three points.”
It is worth nothing that United’s best-attacking play came in the final minutes after Harry Maguire came on to occupy a position in the final third. The centre-back missed two opportunities to score but still managed to cause havoc for Forest’s organised defence.
Ruben Amorim admits Man Utd helped Nottingham Forest
Disappointed with the result, Amorim accepts that United made life easier for Forest at the City Ground.
Forest were gifted a goal in the opening minutes and proved too difficult to break down in the aftermath.
Amorim stated that United helped Forest to win the match, adding: “We know the characters of the team and one goal can put them in one situation they love.
“We have to score two goals to win a match and that is frustrating as it was the beginning of the game. We helped them to win three points.”