Amorim Reflects on Disappointing Loss and Team Dynamics

Gueye received a red card in the 13th minute for raising his hands to teammate Michael Keane’s face in frustration after Casemiro shot wide, following a lackluster defensive effort from Everton. The Toffees capitalized on the numerical advantage, taking the lead with a powerful shot from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and skillfully defending their position in the second half, despite Manchester United maintaining 75 percent possession.

Amorim expressed disagreement with the decision to send off Gueye, acknowledging that Everton rightfully earned their victory. This match marked the first time the Toffees triumphed at Old Trafford since 2013, during David Moyes’s tenure with United, and it represented his first win there as an opposing manager in 18 attempts.

In a press conference, Amorim stated, “I believe they played better with 11 men. They managed exceptionally well with 10 for 70 minutes. Thus, I think we deserved to lose; we did not play well and lacked the necessary intensity. I recognize where we currently stand, and we are far from where we need to be to compete for top positions in the league. We have much work ahead of us, and we need to perfect our game to secure wins. We were not perfect today.”

Amorim expressed concern about reverting to the disappointing feelings from the previous season, underscoring the need for collective effort. “We must work together; I am here to stay. The players are giving their best, but we must improve. We have training scheduled for tomorrow to prepare for our next match.”

He noted his admiration for Everton’s determination, despite the incident that led to the sending off. “Fighting is not inherently negative. It signifies a willingness to battle for the ball, and that, in turn, prevents conceding goals. My viewpoint is that I do not agree with the sending off. I want my players to fight for one another when losing the ball. While we must avoid red cards, such passion among teammates is a positive attribute, not a negative one.”

United had the chance to climb to fifth in the Premier League standings after Bournemouth dropped points, while Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester City also faced defeats. Instead, they currently sit 10th after 12 matches, tied on 18 points with Everton, and 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Looking ahead to their match against fifth-placed Crystal Palace next Sunday, Amorim expressed disappointment that the team failed to draw energy from the weekend’s results, leading to a lackluster performance against Everton.

“It is my responsibility to analyze the game, and today’s performance was not the result of a single individual’s mistake; it was a team effort,” said the United boss. “Given the weekend results, we should have approached the match with a heightened sense of excitement. Regardless of our passing game and overall performance, the atmosphere at Old Trafford should have propelled us to give a significant effort, yet it felt like we were unprepared once again.”