Ruben Amorim got exactly what he wanted from one Manchester United player. Then he ruined it.
Manchester United are capable of so much. But until the team start to learn to be ruthless, this team will continue to fall short.
Ruben Amorim can blame his players, but he also has to take a look at himself too. The latest 1-1 draw against West Ham is the latest disappointment.
One player did exactly what Ruben Amorim asked, and then the head coach took him off. It may have been costly.
Who was Man Utd’s Man of the Match vs West Ham?
Manchester United attack a corner against West Ham
Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
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Diogo Dalot celebrates
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim praised Diogo Dalot, he scored, then he was taken off
After Manchester United’s draw with Everton, Ruben Amorim criticised left wing-back Patrick Dorgu, and said that he feels anxiety every time he has the ball.
These potentially confidence-destroying comments were followed up by Dorgu being dropped and replaced by Diogo Dalot.
Amorim still wanted to see improvement from Dalot, but complimented him ahead of the West Ham game, while calling for consistency.
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He said: “He’s really powerful. He’s good on set-pieces, and you have to understand that in this league, [that] is really important.
“A very important player for us, but he needs to improve like any other player.”
What is your MESSAGE to Ruben Amorim after the 1-1 draw vs West Ham?
“We had good moments and we lost a little bit of control after the goal. We should have closed the game when we scored the first one.”
Ruben Amorim
Manchester United v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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Dalot could not have done more in response. He put in a solid defensive performance, and then scored Manchester United’s opener, finishing like a striker from inside the box.
Amorim then took him off minutes later. Dalot was not on a booking, and it was a surprise decision.
The move seemed to take a zip out of United’s play, removing a player who was having his best performance of the season.
There have been plenty of times we have wanted Amorim to take off Dalot, and he hasn’t.
This time we wanted Dalot to stay on the pitch, and Amorim took him off. You couldn’t make it up.
Diogo Dalot scored his first goal for Man Utd since 2024 – Was Amorim wrong to take him off?
“It’s an instant kill on his first touch. He still has a lot to do. A brilliant moment for him and a great finish.”
Gary Neville on Diogo Dalot’s goal
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Change for change’s sake
Back in the early 1990s, Premier League teams were able to name only three substitutes on the bench.
And in the 2010s, only three substitutes could come off the bench.
The rules changed after Covid, with teams permitted to make five substitutions and name expanded benches.
This has helped United at times. But right now, with no European football, Manchester United don’t need to make five substitutes per game.
Ruben Amorim chooses to make them anyway, despite a lack of options.
His over-tinkering is harming the team unnecessarily, and in this case, taking off a player who did not need to come off the pitch. He deserved to stay on.
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