Amorim Reflects on United’s Setback Against Everton

omidbasir- Gueye was sent off in the 13th minute for raising his hands to teammate Michael Keane’s face in frustration after Casemiro had misfired a shot wide, a result of passive defending from Everton. The Toffees, having dominated the early stages of the match, capitalized on the red card, taking the lead with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s powerful strike and subsequently defending their position effectively throughout the second half, despite the Red Devils maintaining 75 percent possession.

Amorim disagreed with the decision to send Gueye off and acknowledged that Everton deserved their victory. This win marked Everton’s first triumph at Old Trafford since 2013, when David Moyes managed United. It also represented Moyes’ first victory at Old Trafford as an opposing manager in 18 attempts.

In a press conference, Amorim remarked, “I believe they were the better team with 11 players. They executed their game plan well with only 10 men for 70 minutes. Therefore, we deserved to lose. We did not play well, lacking the necessary intensity. I am aware of our current position and recognize that we are far from where we need to be to compete for the top spots in the league. We have significant work ahead, and we need to be flawless to secure wins. We were not flawless today.

“I fear reverting to the feelings of last season, which is my greatest concern. We need to unite and improve together. I am committed to staying. The players are putting in effort, but we must elevate our performance. We have training scheduled for tomorrow to prepare for the next match.”

Amorim expressed envy towards Everton’s determination to win, despite the circumstances that led to Gueye’s dismissal. He explained, “Fighting for the ball is not inherently negative. It doesn’t imply a lack of camaraderie; it signifies urgency. If you lose possession, I will fight to win it back to prevent a goal. That was my sentiment during the game. I do not agree with the sending off. I expect my players to demonstrate that fighting spirit when they lose the ball. While they shouldn’t be sent off for it, that competitive spirit is a positive attribute.”

With the opportunity to climb to fifth in the Premier League after Bournemouth dropped points against West Ham and other rivals faltered, United instead finds themselves in 10th place after 12 matches, level on 18 points with Everton and 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Next Sunday, the Red Devils will face fifth-placed Crystal Palace, yet Amorim expressed disappointment that the team failed to capitalize on the favorable results from the weekend and delivered a sluggish performance against Everton.

“It is my responsibility to analyze the game, and today’s failure was not due to one individual but rather a collective team effort,” stated the United manager. “Given the weekend’s results, we should have entered the pitch with heightened excitement. Regardless of our performance, the atmosphere at Old Trafford was one of anticipation, and I felt we were not prepared once again.”