Amorim insists United better side but Villa roar into title conversation
Perhaps, as Ruben Amorim continues to search for the catalyst which will restore Manchester United to their former glories, he should study the body of work Unai Emery is producing at Aston Villa, who thrust themselves into the Premier League title conversation with a landmark 10th straight victory in all competitions.
Two memorable finishes from Morgan Rogers fit to win any game, let alone one which now sees the hosts mentioned in the same breath as George Ramsay’s ‘Golden Era’ team 111 years ago, moved Emery’s men to within three points of leaders Arsenal ahead of the festive period.
But it was the self-belief Villa displayed, despite not being their usual slick selves, which will have prompted Amorim to cast a jealous glance in the Spaniard’s direction as they trudged off the pitch following the final whistle.
United, for all their injury and suspension issues, were far from catastrophic. Indeed, were it not for Matheus Cunha’s inexplicable miss after he had earlier dragged them level, they could easily have snatched a draw.
But they lack the same sense of purpose and self-assurance Emery has instilled in his players, who appear utterly convinced and totally enthralled by his methods.
“We were the better team, apart from the opening moments of the game,” Amorim said, before warning the transfer market does not provide the panacea to United’s problems. “The frustration is there, because we wanted to come through. But we must take the positives and prepare for the next one. We must take those into our next match and build on them.”
Despite the doubts which continue to cast a shadow over his regime, Amorim’s men entered this fixture in pretty impressive form themselves. Their patched-up starting eleven was commendably durable, even without the combative Casemiro. The paucity of genuine quality they produced though, with Matty Cash’s lapse in concentration giftwrapping Cunha’s equaliser, suggests Bryan Mbuemo and Amad will both be sorely missed until they return from AFCON duty. Even the Brazilian, among a select band of recent signings with the presence to represent a team of United’s stature, was guilty of missing a superb opportunity following Rogers’ second.
The loss of Bruno Fernandes to a calf problem - Amorim’s compatriot and captain - will cause further complications.
“I think it is a soft tissue issue,” Amorim said. “I think he will miss some games but I don’t really want to talk about it because it is an injury and something we can’t control.
“Bruno is usually someone who is always fit and when he’s not he recovers well. So hopefully that will be the case again. But at this stage, I don’t know.”
The uncertainty surrounding Kobbie Mainoo’s future is the latest in a series of unwelcome distractions Amorim has faced since accepting the challenge of rescuing one of the world’s biggest but also dysfunctional clubs. With Fernandes succumbing to injury midway through this keenly contested fixture, the youngster could yet find himself being handed an opportunity over the festive period. Still, his absence from a squad already shorn of numerous key names does not bode well for Mainoo’s hopes. Even though Manuel Ugarte’s passing repertoire makes him thoroughly unsuited for the deep lying role he was tasked with performing here.
“We need to deal with what we can not do,” Amorim continued. “Which is to reach January, do everything with urgency and then make mistakes.
“I am not going to say we need a lot of players because we have a plan. I am not going to go to them (the board) and tell them that because we have that plan.
“If we need to suffer, then the club must come first. You can feel, in this moment, we are going to suffer but we’ll see.”
Until Lisandro Martinez’s introduction provided them with some needed thrust, the majority of the openings United enjoyed were presented to them by Villa. However, although the hosts were far from their usual slick selves, in Rogers they possess a player capable of conjuring genuine magic.
Having scored a brace in his last outing as Emery’s charges edged past West Ham, the 23-year-old duly repeated the feat with a pair of superb efforts.
First, on the cusp of half-time, he collected John McGinn’s raking pass on the touchline before drifting ominously infield. While United’s rearguard dithered, Rogers moved with complete clarity, edging across the pitch before sweeping the ball into the far corner of Senne Lammens’ net.
Matty Cash’s error, when he was dispossessed by Patrick Dorgu just outside his own area, presented Cunha with the chance to equalise moments later. The Brazilian could have scored another, during the second period, but instead headed wastefully wide from close range.
To make matters worse for United, Rogers had already pounced again. On this occasion, he profited from United’s inability to deal with Youri Tielemans’ centre, caressing home after driving into the box.
“For us, it was a fantastic result,” Emery said. “But for me, it is not about the run, it is about the season.
“I am pleased that Morgan was the protagonist, because he is an excellent, committed guy. He is doing very well and we can all see that. However, it is also about the group and our fans are part of that because they had a role in this as well.
“Manchester United are still a top, top team. To begin with, I didn’t think we were at our best and I told them that during the interval. But we regrouped and came through.”
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen (Digne 75), Kamara (Bogarde 88), Onana (Buendia 84), McGinn (Guessand 84), Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins (Malen 75).
Lammens,Yoro (Lacey 84), Heaven, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte (Zirkzee 73), Fernandes (Martinez 46), Dorgu, Mount, Cunha, Sesko (Fletcher 73).
Ref: Michael Oliver
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