Amorim reacts to a 10 man Manchester United win on penalties against Arsenal

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim reacts to a 10 man Manchester United win on penalties against Arsenal  12/01/2025  Emirates Stadium, London, UK

Transcript

00:00Ruben, congratulations. How pleased are you with that point, especially given that you

00:05played Arsenal just over a month ago and it was a very good result?

00:09I think we played, especially in the first half, we played better in the first game.

00:16We were better in set-pieces today, more aggressive. We showed different spirit, even with 10 men.

00:23We are improving on that aspect. I think we had a lot of difficulties in the beginning

00:28of the game to control the game with the ball. Then we suffered, not big opportunities,

00:34but we suffered running after the ball. It was really hard to win the ball, especially

00:39to switch off play, to win the first pressure of Arsenal.

00:46But then we can take in this moment, take the game to a different level when we talk

00:54about aggressivity, and that is a very good thing. We managed to score and then I felt

01:00that in that moment we were able to improve with the ball, but with the send-off it was

01:06really hard on us.

01:07Then we suffered all together, defending very well, with some opportunities from Arsenal.

01:13The players were really tired, but I felt since the first minute that today was our

01:19day and I felt also a connection with our fans, our staff. It was a very good day for

01:25us in that aspect. We need to improve the way we play football.

01:29What did you think of the penalty decision? It seemed like the momentum changed in your

01:33favour, but it seemed like the players didn't think it was a penalty.

01:37Yeah, it's far away. The players told me that it was not a penalty, but let's move on.

01:44We will go to the next round and focus on the next game.

01:48You often talk about how your team suffers and how they have to suffer a goal. Do you

01:54think that pushing through this suffering now and becoming more resilient?

01:58I think that is clear. I think also it is clear that when we score first that helps

02:05us to suffer. It's like more strength to suffer after if something happens. When the opponent

02:17has one opportunity, we can stop the game. We can calm down the game. I think we are

02:24understanding more the way we play football. Sometimes you are not playing well, but you

02:30can control the game in certain moments. It's clear that we are improving in the way that

02:38we suffer playing football. That is a good thing. It's not nice, but it's a good thing for a team.

02:45This idea that you said in your first press conference that you will see an idea with

02:51this team. Do you think this idea is becoming more clear?

02:54Part of the idea. Like I said with the ball, we had some difficulties. I think players like

03:01Garnaciu want to play open. Playing inside they need to suffer. I can put him open, but then

03:08I will have to change the idea and it will take more time. I think it's also good for a player

03:14with a quality like Garnaciu and Ahmad. If they are able to play inside and outside they will be

03:20so much more complete. I think the idea still needs a lot of time, but in that part of the

03:28spirit to suffer, to understand the game, to make some pauses on the game, I think we are improving.

03:34You spoke about Martin before the game. He had a key role to play today as well.

03:42How vital was the penalty miss for United today?

03:46It was really important because it gave us more strength. With less than one player it's really

03:54hard to press. It's really hard to press a team like Arsenal with 11 players. Imagine with 10

04:00players. If you are at a disadvantage it's really hard because they can control the ball. They

04:06already controlled the ball in a lot of moments. It was vital to win the game, to draw the game.

04:14The hero, Samson Sturridge, what did you make of the moment when he scored a goal and how

04:20vital was it for him to get that?

04:22It's really important, not just for them, but for all the players. Your life as a footballer

04:29has cycles and moments. Sometimes in one week your life can change. You can see Altai. Against

04:36Tottenham everybody was pointing the finger for Altai and I understand that. Today he was our

04:43hero also. Joshua a few weeks ago had a small problem with our fans and today every time he's

04:51going on the pitch you feel the support from the fans. Then he has the last penalty. Life is like

04:58that. You have to continue to be humble, to work every day. Your time will come. It's really

05:03important for them, not just for them but for his teammates.

05:11Given Joshua's losing the fifth penalty, were you worried about the consequences of him not

05:16scoring? Obviously considering how much pressure he's been under. Obviously that's a big moment

05:20for him to score that but were you worried about the consequences of him going away?

05:25No. I had the feeling we were going to win but that part is not my part. The set-pieces are not

05:33my part. Today we were amazing in set-pieces. Carlos was really good, Andres was really good,

05:40Emmanuel was really good and they chose the right players to score the penalty.

05:46It's not my part, it was theirs. They did a very good job.

05:51Last question.

05:54Apologies for asking this after such an amazing performance but

05:56Marcus Rashford obviously wasn't part of the score today.

05:59Is it likely he's played his last game for Manchester United?

06:02I don't know. We'll see. He's a player for Manchester United, we'll see. He has to work,

06:09he has to represent his club and he loves his club. I have to make choices. I already spoke about

06:18how I make the choices so it is what it is. Let's continue, let's see the next game and

06:27like I said I have to make a selection.

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