For the first time under Amorim, Manchester United looked to gain momentum with three consecutive victories: home wins over Sunderland and Brighton with a historic victory at Anfield in Liverpool. ..Continue reading
That promising spell was followed by two 2–2 draws against Nottingham Forest and Spurs, but the team then suffered their fourth Premier League defeat of the season, losing at home to an 11-man Everton team.
The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 13th minute when Idrissa Gueye was sent off for punching teammate Michael Keane after a misplaced pass led to Bruno Fernandes’ chance.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, a goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ensured Everton secured a gritty victory – their first at Old Trafford since December 2013.
United’s recent momentum has now stalled and the team received boos at half-time, reigniting criticism of Amorim just as the situation began to ease.
Despite being a 13-time Premier League champion, Ferguson was well aware of the defeat and made it a point to master the art of bouncing back.
“Defeat happens,” he said in an old interview with Jim White for Sky Sports.
“I can accept defeat, no problem. No problem for me. Maybe when I was very young I found it difficult. But you have the dignity to ultimately be able to accept defeat and be a good loser. But that doesn’t mean you don’t forget.”
“My goal after that was to make sure it never happened again. I just hated losing like that. I told my players at the end of the game in no uncertain terms and always tried to find the reason why we lost.”
“But the next match was a different world and I made sure I won that next match.
“That purpose and determination is something that is within you, it is there or it is not.”
United are currently tenth in the Premier League after their second home defeat of the season, three points behind the top four with twelve games played.
The Red Devils appeared to be making progress under Amorim, but the Portuguese coach is very concerned about falling back into the problems of last season, when the team finished fifteenth and suffered eighteen league defeats.
“We are not there yet, not even close to the point where we should be fighting for the best positions in the competition,” Amorim admitted.
“These five weeks everyone is praising our evolution. I always say the same things. We are not even close to the moment where we should be at this club.”
“I’m afraid to return to the feeling of last season. That’s my biggest concern.”
The former Sporting CP manager also appreciated the intensity of the altercation between Gueye and Keane that led to the red card, using it as an example of the kind of passion he wants to see in his side.
“Fighting is not a bad thing,” Amorim added.
“Fighting doesn’t mean they don’t like each other. Fighting is you losing the ball, I will fight with you because we will suffer a goal. That was my feeling when I watched.”
“I hope that my players, when they lose the ball, will fight with each other. That’s a good feeling, not a bad feeling.”
United will look to bounce back with a challenging away match against Crystal Palace on Sunday, followed by another clash in London with West Ham on Thursday evening.
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