Manchester United Boss Rúben Amorim Insists They Need To Be Smarter

Manchester United Boss Rúben Amorim Insists They Need To Be Smarter - [Sky Sports Screen Shot]

Amorim Calls for Smarter Mentality After United Held to 1–1 Draw at Fulham

Manchester United’s 1–1 draw at Fulham may have brought effort and structure, but manager Rúben Amorim admitted that his side’s inability to manage key moments continues to hold them back.

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Speaking after another frustrating outing, the Portuguese coach emphasised that intelligence and composure, as well as energy, must define United’s game.

Reflecting on the performance, Amorim pointed to the shift in mindset after United went ahead. “We can do better, but we are putting in the effort, so that is the most important to me,” he told Sky Sports.

“In some moments, we did well, especially at the beginning. After the goal, we were only thinking about the result. We were okay until then, but we were not smart in that moment.”

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It was a blunt assessment of a match that saw United squander a penalty through Bruno Fernandes and later lose their grip after Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal had gifted them the lead. Fulham’s equaliser through Emile Smith Rowe exposed United’s failure to close out contests.

Amorim urged his squad to shift their focus away from short-term relief and onto execution across the full 90 minutes. “We have to think about the performance,” he explained. “I know what the feeling is of a player who has to win every match.

“We missed a penalty, we missed some chances, and then when we scored, we needed to defend that goal better. We have to focus on our movements and play until the end.”

The ex-Sporting manager also identified structural flaws, particularly when facing Fulham’s corners and wide attacks. “We tried to press high, but after a few times, we pushed the ball to the side too soon.

“We wanted to press all the time, but sometimes you have to manage the game, maybe drop a little. They had more space than us when they were attacking,” he noted.

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Bruno Fernandes’ penalty miss, his first since December 2023, carried extra weight for Amorim. “He is not used to missing penalties,” the manager said.

“He knows how important that moment can be for the team. During the game, he was not happy because he was not involved. He carries so much responsibility, and I think he felt that missing was huge for us.”

Despite the frustration, Amorim insisted he retains faith in his squad’s ability to improve. “We want to win games. The players know they are at a club where they need to be better. They worked really hard today and all week in training. I am really confident that we are going to get many wins.”