Ruben Amorim remains confident that Manchester United will soon start to score goals after managing to find the net just once in the first two games of the Premier League season.
Sunday saw Manchester United draw 1-1 against Fulham as Ruben Amorim’s side dropped points for the second consecutive week.
The Red Devils started brightly as Matheus Cunha came close to scoring two goals in the opening minutes.
Fulham caused problems from set-pieces as Altay Bayindir was often caught flapping on his line.
United wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead before the break when Bruno Fernandes sent his penalty kick over the crossbar.
Early in the second half, Leny Yoro’s deflected header gave United the lead.
The home side responded by piling the pressure on United’s defence, with Emile Smith Rowe scoring the equaliser to ensure the points were split between the two teams.
Ruben Amorim roaring on his Manchester United players against Fulham
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim explains Kobbie Mainoo snub
Just like United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the opening game of the season, Kobbie Mainoo was an unused substitute for United.
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Amorim opted to bring on Manuel Ugarte when United were trying to control the game, but that backfired because the Red Devils went on to concede the all-important equalising goal.
The United head coach is subject to criticism following some of his substitutes, but the decision to overlook Mainoo will once again trigger question marks.
Speaking to reporters after the match, as quoted by ManUtd.com, Amorim stressed that Mainoo is challenging Fernandes for a place in the team.
“No, he is fighting for the position now with Bruno [Fernandes],” Amorim said. “And I changed two midfielders.
“I like Mason Mount there because we want to score a goal. And then when I change it, I felt that the team needed to return to one holding midfielder.
“So he just needs to fight for the position with Bruno in training. Like it should be at Manchester United.”
This is a hint that Amorim doesn’t see Mainoo as an alternative to Casemiro and Ugarte. It means he wants the England international to utilise his attacking attributes rather than becoming a defensive-minded player.
Benjamin Sesko needs time to settle at Man Utd
For the second week in a row, United lined up without a striker on the pitch.
Rasmus Hojlund was left out of the squad amid reports he is on his way out of Old Trafford, while Joshua Zirkzee was named on the bench along with new signing Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko replaced Casemiro in the 53rd minute, but the Slovenia international was unable to have an impact on the game.
Amorim stressed after the match that the 22-year-old striker needs more time to settle at his new club, after arriving just two weeks ago.
He added: “I think he needs time. It’s not easy sometimes when you are on the bench and you get into the game and the game is really fast. I think he is understanding that the game is faster than the Bundesliga.
“But he’s fighting. He had some good connections with his team-mates. I felt that when he was on the pitch, he wasn’t on in our best moment.
“That can change the way you see a player. I am very happy as you can see his effort. We need to help him, we need to be in a better moment to help him.”