The Red Devils have taken a huge step forward under the Portuguese despite losing their Premier League opener against Arsenal
“We prove today that we can win any game in the Premier League, especially against a great team like Arsenal,” Ruben Amorim told reporters after Manchester United's frustrating 1-0 defeat to the Gunners at Old Trafford. “We were the better team. It’s our feeling that we played better. In the end, we lose the game, but I’m really proud of the effort they put in.”
This was not Amorim's best impression of his delusional predecessor Erik ten Hag, who consistently claimed his disjointed team were making progress after every damaging setback. United were genuinely much-improved on Sunday, and completely outplayed a very strong Arsenal side that finished second in the table last season.
The statistics back up Amorim, as the hosts enjoyed 61 per cent of possession while racking up 22 shots compared to Arsenal's nine. It was also telling that the Player of the Match award went to Gunners goalkeeper David Raya, who was forced to make seven saves, including a superb fingertip reaction to deny United's new No.10 Matheus Cunha. United were dynamic, direct and disciplined, and had it not been for the inexplicable Altay Bayindir error that gifted Riccardo Calafiori an early goal, the final result would likely have been positive.
"You always feel in the game they can do something not just with the ball but without the ball. We need to win games but that was completely different to last season," Amorim added, which was also true.
There will be no repeat of last season's disastrous 15th-placed finish because United are finally a cohesive unit. The goals and wins will start flowing if they can keep up the same level of performance, and Champions League qualification must be the ultimate goal, regardless of whether part-owners INEOS sanction any further signings before the summer transfer window slams shut.