Manchester United secured a vital three points away at Crystal Palace, with two second half goals sealing a 2-1 win.
Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount netted to help United bounce back from Jean-Philippe Mateta’s retaken first half penalty.
United desperately needed the win after a surprise home loss to Everton. In doing so, Ruben Amorim’s side became the first team to win away at Selhurst Park this season, and also notched their first victory at the ground since 2020.
After becoming the first United boss to win away at Palace since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruben Amorim spoke about the moment he realised the team were on for all three points.
Who was Manchester United’s MAN OF THE MATCH vs Crystal Palace?ð¤ð¥
Ruben Amorim speaks to reporters at Selhurst Park
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s belief
Manchester United’s failure to earn European football last season presented the opportunity for added rest, playing just once a week.
And this provided an edge against Crystal Palace, who travelled to play and lose in France on Thursday night, before the quick turnaround against United.
Usually it has been United on the wrong end of these disadvantages, but this season the script has been flipped.
More United News
Amorim felt Palace’s tiredness had an impact, and speaking to the BBC Sport, he said he spotted some lethargy against United’s press at the end of the first half.
The Manchester United head coach explained that after seeing this, he was convinced his team could come back and win, so long as they scored next.
He said: “I felt it because, if you see the last plays of the game [in the first half], they were struggling so much to take the ball out of the box. You can feel it the way they move
“They were getting tired and we talked about that. We increased our pace and intensity and I had the feeling that if we score one goal, it is going to change completely.”
Amorim added after the game that when speaking to his players at half-time, he told them to ‘be more alive’ and take the contest to Palace.
Describe that finish from Joshua Zirkzee in one word…⚽️ð¥
Manchester United keep pace
Ultimately Manchester United needed the win more than Crystal Palace, having suffered the shock loss at home to Everton.
United had gone three games without a win, and before Sunday’s game kicked off, fallen back down into the bottom half of the table.
Amorim’s side end the weekend in a more respectable seventh position, just three points back from third place.