Højlund's winner from the stands
https://redd.it/1h2ord1
@r_reddevils
believe a lot in Mason Mount."
Hi Ruben. You use wing-backs a lot during your managerial career, which is something United fans aren't traditionally used to seeing. Can you help explain what you necessarily want from your players in those wide positions and how that might be different to what they may be used to seeing?
"Today if I ask you guys what system I use, you saw more 4-4-2, in defending, I think? You agree? Then we put two wide players like the other 20 teams in the league. You have to change the characteristics. Dalot and [Tyrell\] Malacia are more defenders because they defend in the back four and today, Amad and Antony they acted like a winger, and they stay open. What I want is a good one against one, to open the field, to play, to close the field when we lose the ball and it is the same in every team. I think the structure is more fluid than you guys think with the three defenders. Today we finished today without any centre-backs. So it was Casemiro, [Noussair\] Mazraoui and Luke Shaw. I think it is more the characteristics of the players and not the real positions of the players.”
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Press Conference Ruben Amorim has revealed that he is literally walking Manchester United’s players through training drills to try and speed up their learning of his football philosophy – joking that they cannot concentrate on a video for more than 12 minutes
Ruben Amorim's Pre-Match Press Conference | United vs Everton, Premier League match 13
Chris Wheeler
Ruben Amorim has revealed that he is literally walking Manchester United’s players through training drills to try and speed up their learning of his football philosophy – joking that they cannot concentrate on a video for more than 12 minutes
https://x.com/ChrisWheelerDM/status/1862489269152960691
Amorim: ‘I was a football player. Videos more than 12 minutes? Forget! Because they lose concentration. Instead of video, we do it like walking – and jogging – it’s a way to do it. They are very good players, they need to believe and we will show individual stuff.’
https://x.com/ChrisWheelerDM/status/1862489647324016808
Amorim will rotate his players again for Everton on Sunday as he faces a third game in a week. ‘It is what it is. We already know that it will be like that so no excuse. We should be ready for Sunday and we have to win. We will rotate players and we will be ready.’
https://x.com/ChrisWheelerDM/status/1862489739674173838
‘It’s going to be a different match with a lot of fighting, long balls, second balls. They have a quality coach that understands the league and the moment of the opponent. We need to have the ball. We have a short time to recover. I expect to see better things.’
https://x.com/ChrisWheelerDM/status/1862489965264810183
Amorim shows his admiration for Mason Mount and the player’s desire to turn his Utd career around. ‘The first thing is he’s working really hard, and then you have to understand the human also – he wants this really badly.’
https://x.com/ChrisWheelerDM/status/1862490075734393233
‘That is the most important thing. He has proven to all of you that he is a talented player. He was European champion. He has to stay fit. You see in some moments and details that Mason Mount is a proper footballer. So we especially believe a lot in Mason Mount.’
https://x.com/ChrisWheelerDM/status/1862490248548118698
Rúben Amorim names also Diogo Dalot among players to build future Man Utd project: “He’s a great player. He can help us a lot”.
“He's a player that can play both sides, a player like that these days is perfect”.
“He's a team player, you can feel that in the way he plays”.
https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1862490756784476427
# Detailed Quotes
# Every word from Ruben before Everton (H)
https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/key-quotes-from-ruben-amorims-pre-everton-press-conference-29-november-2024
Ruben you have done your first away game and you have done your first home game in the Europa League. What are you expecting from your first Premier League home match against Everton?
"Win. I am hoping to win. It is going to be a different match. [There will be\] a lot of fighting, long balls, second balls. A quality coach that understands the league and understands the quality of the opponent. We need to have the ball because we have a short time to recover with the team. So I hope for a win and I hope to see different things from my team, like we did from Ipswich to now. With Everton, [we will be\] without training and I expect to see different things and better things."
Hi Ruben, I want to ask you about Diogo Dalot. He made a big difference tonight and he was named United's
Amorim's First Win: A Match Analysis (Sporting Fan)
https://preview.redd.it/pc2amnaw2u3e1.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5441d1a98dfecdbb5aeef75bb2e0fa7308f02d31
Firstly, thank you all for the overwhelming love on my previous post! As requested, here’s another match analysis following United’s victory yesterday. While I can’t promise to do this after every match, I’ll try to share my thoughts occasionally, especially when there’s significant progress or lack thereof. Having seen Amorim’s transformation at Sporting, I hope my perspective gives you a deeper understanding of his philosophy, what happened during the match and what to expect at United.
**Early Impressions: Amorim's System is Taking Shape**
Just like against Ipswich, United started fast, with Højlund pressing the goalkeeper brilliantly. This is typical Amorim, using the front three as the first line of defense, not to chase the ball aimlessly but to force the opposition into long balls or relinquishing control. Against mid-to-lower-level teams, expect this high press more often. However, against stronger sides like Arsenal next week, it will likely be more measured, with only the striker leading the press while others hold their shape.
Højlund’s role yesterday caught my eye. Many have been worried about his potential impact to that of Viktor Gyökeres at Sporting, but it’s worth noting that Amorim doesn’t need his striker to score 20+ goals for the system to work. At Sporting, Paulinho wasn’t a prolific scorer (just 13 goals in his first full season under Amorim), 6 from those goals being in the league, yet the team won its first league title in 19 years. Højlund, however, has the physicality, pressing ability, and finishing to surpass Paulinho’s contribution. His second goal today perfectly showcased Amorim's principles: Antony holding width, Mount's clever movement inside, and precise underlapping runs leading to a cutback goal, a quintessential Sporting move.
**Patterns of Play: A System Emerging**
Despite the challenges of mid-season management and adapting players to a new philosophy, today’s match showed significant progress. Wide center-backs, particularly Martínez and Mazraoui, were crucial in the build-up. Their ability to progress the ball was outstanding:
* **Lisandro Martínez:** Completed 79/79 passes (100%), with 14 progressive passes and 18 into the final third. His calmness and vision are integral to building attacks.
* **Noussair Mazraoui:** The standout in build-up, completing 119/125 passes (95.2%), including 17 progressive passes and 18 into the final third, the highest in the squad. His role as the right-sided center-back was immense.
The team dominated possession (72%) and achieved an impressive pass accuracy (90%), yet the finishing remains a concern, with only 6 shots on target from 20 attempts. While frustrating, this is something Amorim’s system can improve over time as players grow more comfortable with their roles.
**Dominating Posesssion**
I also want to highlight how much calmer United looked on the ball yesterday compared to what we’ve seen under previous managers. There was a noticeable patience in their play, they weren’t rushing or forcing passes, which reflected in their passing stats: United completed 742 of 820 passes, a huge step forward in terms of control and composure.
To put that into perspective, let’s compare this to some previous performances:
* Under Ruud’s interim period, United completed just 457 of 552 passes against PAOK.
* Even under Ten Hag, during the match against Twente, United managed only 491 of 584 passes.
Looking across Ten Hag’s tenure, United’s passing stats typically hovered between 400-500 per match. This makes yesterday’s numbers a standout, especially considering it was against a weaker opponent.
For context, these passing figures are closer to what you’d expect from Manchester City in similar fixtures. For example, City completed 740 of 816 passes against Sparta Prague and 725 of 799 against Slovan Bratislava. While I’m not directly comparing United to City, it’s
[Steven Railston] As agreed when Chido Obi-Martin moved to United in the summer, he has signed a professional contract today on his 17th birthday #mufc
https://twitter.com/StevenRailston/status/1862428411223773362
https://redd.it/1h2i8g2
@r_reddevils
[@strettyend] Pitchside view of buildup to Hojlund's match winner
https://redd.it/1h2i4d4
@r_reddevils
Rasmus Højlund on what it's been like working under Ruben Amorim. 🗣️ “This system reminds me of how I played in Atalanta, it suits me very well...”
https://redd.it/1h2dg86
@r_reddevils
Manchester United [3] - 2 Bodo Glimt - Rasmus Hojlund 50'
https://streamff.co/v/1abf8af9
https://redd.it/1h25u1r
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Post match thread
3-2
https://redd.it/1h26pj9
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Manchester United [2] - 2 Bodo Glimt - Rasmus Hojlund 45'
https://streamff.co/v/5d154c58
https://redd.it/1h25cmc
@r_reddevils
🔴Amorim's Utd XI for his first game at OT: Onana, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Martinez, Antony, Ugarte, Fernandes (C), Malacia, Mount, Hojlund, Garnacho
https://x.com/ManUtd/status/1862206093864443938
https://redd.it/1h22sau
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Fans of Manchester United and Everton and Liverpool and Manchester City will join forces to protest against rising ticket prices at Old Trafford and Anfield this weekend
https://x.com/mikekeegan_dm/status/1862104436832670207?s=46&t=PEyRosjjiO7LfadS9X_pVw
https://redd.it/1h1ujrx
@r_reddevils
[Simon Stone] It cost £10.4m to remove Erik ten Hag and his staff.
https://twitter.com/sistoney67/status/1861908784030925091
https://redd.it/1h1r5ks
@r_reddevils
[Full Press Conference] 'Ed Sheeran thing was NOTHING! Roy Keane REAL STAR' | Ruben Amorim, Fernandes | Man Utd v Bodø/Glimt
https://youtu.be/n3WgClLpuE0?si=lqR6vPerypdl40cA
https://redd.it/1h14ou6
@r_reddevils
Noussair Mazraoui & Rasmus Højlund in Whoscored's Europa League team of the week
https://redd.it/1h2kdfq
@r_reddevils
Player of the Season last season. Have you been looking forward to working with him and can he be a big part of this system as a wing-back?
"It is very powerful, we have to rotate him sometimes because he always looks fresh, but he is not like that, he is not a machine. I think he plays better on the right and we will manage to put him on the right. He is a very good player, very powerful that can play both sides and nowadays, a player that can play on both sides is perfect because you can put him in different positions. I expect the same as last year that you saw. A great player that can help the team and he is really a team player, you can feel it in every way, he leads the game and he is very important for us."
Hi Ruben. I think everyone understands you have a difficult job coming in midway through the season. How can you compensate for the lack of time? Can you maybe do, I know you don't have a lot of time, but can you maybe do double training sessions? Or more videos? Is there any way you can speed up the process or is it impossible?
"I was a football player and football players, if a video is more than 12 minutes, they forget. They lose concentration so we have to work on imagine there is an indoor stadium, and we have that to do instead of video. We will do it like walking and jogging. It is a way to do it instead of showing videos. We have all the staff and for example Carlos [Fernandes\] is with the strikers, and he will show individual moments. We will try to cope with that and everybody in the staff has a job and they are maybe more important than me. That is it. Trying to see the game and to see what is missing. They are very good players and they need to believe as we will show individual stuff, team stuff and work. If you cannot run then jog and make the same exercise, of course it is not the same, but you can manage to try and win games."
Does this little run then sum up how hard it is going to be for you in these first few weeks? You have got no time to work with players and you are asking them to take on a lot of new information, on Sunday you are going to play an Everton team who have had the full week to prepare and look at how your team plays?
"Yeah, it is what it is. We will rotate players and we will be ready. Today we have to use like four subs to manage the fitness, not the game, we managed the fitness today and we have to do it. We already know it will be like that; no excuses and we should be ready for Sunday. We have to win."
In terms of athleticism, you said you want them to be better athletes. Is it possible for a player this season to be able to make that step?
"Without training, you have to use the games. I felt and I don't know because I have to see the game, I felt we pressed a little bit higher. In Mason Mount, he did 60 minutes with high intensity. Rasmus [Hojlund\] was dead in the end. The guys that are playing have to push more. Push the guys to the limit and the other guys have to train tomorrow. Luke Shaw did some minutes and then he is going to train now because we are three days away from some things we cannot do. We manage with all the staff on how we try to figure it out. [We have\] some ideas on how to cope with that."
Hi Ruben, you mentioned Mason Mount there, the club invested a lot of money in him last summer and for whatever reason it hasn't worked out for him last year. Have you seen enough promise from him in the last couple of weeks that show he can be a part of your team moving forward?
"First thing, he is working really hard and then you have to understand he is human also. He wants this really bad and that is the most important thing. He proved to all of you that he is a talented player. He was a European champion also and we believe a lot in him. He has to stay fit, like all the guys in the team, they are quality players, but they have to improve and believe in themselves. Today he did a great job, and you see in some moments and details that you can see that Mason Mount is a proper footballer. We believe a lot in him, and I especially
fascinating to see United finally dominating possession in a way that mirrors the top teams approach to controlling games against weaker sides.
**Key Performances and Tactical Tweaks**
* **Mason Mount:** Played a pivotal role today, especially in the final moments. His run inside and intelligent backheel for the winning goal exemplified Amorim's fluid, dynamic system. Mount is crucial for maintaining this level of unpredictability and needs to stay fit.
* **Alejandro Garnacho:** Despite criticism, I saw improvement in his role as an inside forward. He linked up well, held his composure, and showed tactical growth. Amorim even made a clever tweak in the second half: pushing Garnacho wider in possession while Dalot inverted as the left inside forward. This flexibility made United harder to defend against, as I believe Garnacho is better in wider positions. And I think Amorim saw that too.
* **Transition Vulnerabilities:** While the attacking build-up showed promise, United remains vulnerable in transitions, especially through the center. This could stem from fitness issues or the need for a commanding central center-back. De Ligt is a quality player but doesn’t yet inspire the confidence of a long-term leader in this role. Reinforcements in January might be necessary.
**The Bigger Picture**
Amorim’s early days at Sporting weren’t perfect either, but his clear philosophy and adaptability eventually turned a struggling team into champions. Similarly, at United, while there are growing pains, the patterns of play, player roles, and pressing philosophy already resemble a lot from his Sporting side. Importantly, the players seem to believe in his system. As results improve, so will confidence, and this belief is crucial for sustained progress.
The next few games, particularly against Everton and Arsenal, will be pivotal in maintaining momentum. Wins will not only boost morale but also reinforce trust in Amorim’s methods, which seems key for these players.
**Final Thoughts**
This was one of the first times in years I genuinely enjoyed the way United played. It’s not perfect yet, but the potential is undeniable. I’ll admit, when we went 1-2 down, I was worried the players might struggle to turn it around. A lot of the issues with this squad over recent years have been mental fragility in tough moments, but they stayed composed and found a way to win. That resilience is promising and will need to become a habit under Amorim.
Winning against Everton next will be absolutely crucial to keep the momentum going, especially with Arsenal coming up after that, a match that’s going to be a very tough test for this team.
Thanks again for reading, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Let’s ride the momentum and see where Amorim can take United! 🔴
https://redd.it/1h2kn8h
@r_reddevils
Amorim's First Win: A Match Analysis (Sporting Fan)
https://preview.redd.it/pc2amnaw2u3e1.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5441d1a98dfecdbb5aeef75bb2e0fa7308f02d31
Firstly, thank you all for the overwhelming love on my previous post! As requested, here’s another match analysis following United’s victory yesterday. While I can’t promise to do this after every match, I’ll try to share my thoughts occasionally, especially when there’s significant progress or lack thereof. Having seen Amorim’s transformation at Sporting, I hope my perspective gives you a deeper understanding of his philosophy, what happened during the match and what to expect at United.
Early Impressions: Amorim's System is Taking Shape
Just like against Ipswich, United started fast, with Højlund pressing the goalkeeper brilliantly. This is typical Amorim, using the front three as the first line of defense, not to chase the ball aimlessly but to force the opposition into long balls or relinquishing control. Against mid-to-lower-level teams, expect this high press more often. However, against stronger sides like Arsenal next week, it will likely be more measured, with only the striker leading the press while others hold their shape.
Højlund’s role yesterday caught my eye. Many have been worried about his potential impact to that of Viktor Gyökeres at Sporting, but it’s worth noting that Amorim doesn’t need his striker to score 20+ goals for the system to work. At Sporting, Paulinho wasn’t a prolific scorer (just 13 goals in his first full season under Amorim), 6 from those goals being in the league, yet the team won its first league title in 19 years. Højlund, however, has the physicality, pressing ability, and finishing to surpass Paulinho’s contribution. His second goal today perfectly showcased Amorim's principles: Antony holding width, Mount's clever movement inside, and precise underlapping runs leading to a cutback goal, a quintessential Sporting move.
Patterns of Play: A System Emerging
Despite the challenges of mid-season management and adapting players to a new philosophy, today’s match showed significant progress. Wide center-backs, particularly Martínez and Mazraoui, were crucial in the build-up. Their ability to progress the ball was outstanding:
Lisandro Martínez: Completed 79/79 passes (100%), with 14 progressive passes and 18 into the final third. His calmness and vision are integral to building attacks.
Noussair Mazraoui: The standout in build-up, completing 119/125 passes (95.2%), including 17 progressive passes and 18 into the final third, the highest in the squad. His role as the right-sided center-back was immense.
The team dominated possession (72%) and achieved an impressive pass accuracy (90%), yet the finishing remains a concern, with only 6 shots on target from 20 attempts. While frustrating, this is something Amorim’s system can improve over time as players grow more comfortable with their roles.
Dominating Posesssion
I also want to highlight how much calmer United looked on the ball yesterday compared to what we’ve seen under previous managers. There was a noticeable patience in their play, they weren’t rushing or forcing passes, which reflected in their passing stats: United completed 742 of 820 passes, a huge step forward in terms of control and composure.
To put that into perspective, let’s compare this to some previous performances:
Under Ruud’s interim period, United completed just 457 of 552 passes against PAOK.
Even under Ten Hag, during the match against Twente, United managed only 491 of 584 passes.
Looking across Ten Hag’s tenure, United’s passing stats typically hovered between 400-500 per match. This makes yesterday’s numbers a standout, especially considering it was against a weaker opponent.
For context, these passing figures are closer to what you’d expect from Manchester City in similar fixtures. For example, City completed 740 of 816 passes against Sparta Prague and 725 of 799 against Slovan Bratislava. While I’m not directly comparing United to City, it’s
Hojlund on watching a film this week: “Yeah the Gladiator one. It was a good one. We watched it when we were in with the national team. I thought it was a nice celebration. That's why I wanted to do that.”
https://x.com/lauriewhitwell/status/1862427035827622195?s=46&t=k_FBGnsbG2P0PN0vqz37RA
https://redd.it/1h2i3bs
@r_reddevils
Mazraoui compilation v Bodø/Glimt
https://redd.it/1h2digx
@r_reddevils
Passing map vs Bodo
https://redd.it/1h27b1u
@r_reddevils
Hojlund says that the new style suits him well
https://www.manutd.com/en/videos/detail/rasmus-hojlund-interview-after-his-two-goals-v-bodo-glimt
https://redd.it/1h27qw2
@r_reddevils
[Statman Dave]: Noussair Mazraoui’s game by numbers vs. Bodø/Glimt:
139 total touches
100% cross accuracy
95% pass accuracy
86% duels won
21 passes into the final third
8 ball recoveries
5 tackles attempted
5 tackles completed
3 chances created
3 clearances
10/10 every game… 🔥
https://x.com/StatmanDave/status/1862254781001056453
https://redd.it/1h26vls
@r_reddevils
[Laurie Whitwell] First start for Malacia since May 2023. Antony right wing-back. Fernandes deeper role.
https://twitter.com/lauriewhitwell/status/1862206893185249380
https://redd.it/1h22whx
@r_reddevils
Simon Stone: Ruben Amorin in prog: "To be writing my first programme notes as head coach of @ManUtd is a huge honour. When I arrived in Manchester, I took the Old Trafford tour and it gave me a feeling that I want everyone to have: to remember who we are and what that means. (…)
https://x.com/sistoney67/status/1862168796171026497?s=46&t=108nlaEXShzkgzjMQccD3g
https://redd.it/1h1zglp
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[Laurie Whitwell] Supporters groups write letter to Omar Berrada calling ticket price rises a “disgrace” + urging for reconsideration. Strength of feeling communicated to club’s executive.
https://twitter.com/lauriewhitwell/status/1862089824238276693
https://redd.it/1h1tn04
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[John Percy/Sam Wallace] Ruud van Nistelrooy to be named new Leicester City manager
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/11/27/ruud-van-nistelrooy-to-be-named-new-leicester-city-manager/
https://redd.it/1h1depr
@r_reddevils
struggles](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/live-manchester-united-press-conference-30461114?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar#entry3639712)
Ruben: "That positon is not the best for him \[vs Ipswich\]. He was fighting with two giants. We will keep looking for solutions. He will have all the help of all the staff and fans. He is a Manchester United boy."
Rúben Amorim on Rashford: **"I will TRY to help him. It was not easy for him in that position \[against Ipswich\] because he was facing two giants.” “We will continue to look for solutions for him and for the other players. Marcus has to be Marcus. He will have the help of all the staff and the fans because he is a Manchester United kid, but it has to come from him first."**
https://redd.it/1h13yfd
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