Amorim confident 'tired' United can rise from penalty pain to progress
BIG STRETCH: Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana makes a save during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, first leg match at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.
Ruben Amorim believes his side can progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League with the backing of the United faithful at Old Trafford next Thursday, following his side’s 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in San Sebastián.
In a match that ultimately proved devoid of chances and quality, Joshua Zirkzee put the visitors ahead before Mikel Oyzarzabal fired home from the spot to leave the fate of who will progress in the hands of the second-leg in a week’s time.
The opening 30 minutes confirmed the tie was to be one of an end-to-end nature, with both hosts and visitors often finding themselves in potentially dangerous positions following counter-attacking moves. While both Sociedad and United had found themselves with openings, any sense of a final product neglected both.
"We’ll take the result. It’ll be a different match at Old Trafford with the pressure on us," Amorim said in his post-match press conference. "It is clear [we need to be more clinical]. We are creating chances but sometimes we manage not to shoot. But the great opportunities are there. But sometimes we are missing something and that can make a difference in these kinds of games where we need goals and that can make a difference."
Erratic would be an apt term to describe the opening period of the encounter. Neither side were able to settle into a period of dominance on the ball, with both seeming to prefer a misplaced pass to an opponent than a completed one to a teammate. Perhaps the most telling moment came with Diogo Dalot failing to cross the ball to striker Rasmus Hojlund in the centre of Sociedad’s box.
“I just imagine that Diogo doesn’t know for sure that Rasmus has the advantage, one thing that I’m sure of is that they are really anxious to score and to win games. They are doing their best and then sometimes they do not decide their best. The decision was not the best," Amorim added. “The important thing is to not fight about it. Let’s move on to the next opportunity.”
It seemed as though captain Bruno Fernandes would surely be the one to break the deadlock with an uncontested strike just outside the six yard box in the 36th minute, but a timely block on the line and an impressive reactionary stop from the goalkeeper on the follow-up kept the tie at a stalemate.
The beginning of the second half brought more of the same from both sides, but nothing lasts forever, and the deadlock was broken minutes before the hour courtesy of Zirkzee. Following a fast-break which left the Sociedad defence wide open, the Dutchman found himself unmarked at the edge of the box, and fired a first-time strike past the flat-footed Alex Remiro.
Zirkzee, who has come under a great deal of scrutiny from United fans, is certainly one of the players who has seen noticeable improvement under the tenure of Amorim.
“He deserves it. He’s working really well and he’s working on a lot of things in his game," said the manager. "He deserves this moment and he was really important for us today.”
In the wake of yet another chaotic end-to-end period after Zirkzee’s goal, the 70th minute brought Real Sociedad’s turn to deal a blow of their own to the visitors, as a penalty was given to the hosts following a VAR check on a handball from Bruno Fernandes inside the box.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Amorim responded when asked if he agreed with the penalty decision.
Oyarzabal stepped up to the spot and converted, and the hosts took the momentum of the equaliser in their stride, seeming the more likely to take the lead and take command of the tie.
“In the last 20 minutes I felt that the team were really tired. Until the penalty I thought the team was really in control of the game," Amorim said. “We were so near the second goal in terms of transitions. When the momentum changes, we get tired more easily.”
A low cross was fired into the box by Sheraldo Becker in the 83rd minute which was met by Orri Oskarsson at close range, only to be fired inches wide of the post. Manchester United’s subsequent defensive substitutions hinted that Amorim was more than happy to bring the tie back to Old Trafford at one-goal apiece.
“We’ll need to survive physically until [next Thursday]," said Amorim, navigating an unprecedented injury crisis at the club. “It’ll be a different match at Old Trafford with the pressure on us. Let’s try and win the second game.”
Remiro 7, Elustondo 5 (Aramburu 63), Aguerd 6, Zubeldia 6, Muñoz 5, Sučić 6 (Imizcoz 88), Turrientes 6 (Marín 63), Méndez 6 Kubo 8 (Becker 81), Oyarzabal 8, Barrenetxea 6 (Oskarsson 63)
Onana 7, Mazraoui 6, de Ligt 6, Yoro 6 (Lindelof 88), Dalot 6, Casemiro 6, Fernandes 7, Dorgu 6, Zirkzee 7 (Collyer 88), Højlund 6, Garnacho 5 (Eriksen 78).
Ivan Kružliak 7
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