MANCHESTER, England — Ruben Amorim wasn’t kidding when he stated “the storm will come.” Marcus Rashford, set items, missed possibilities, conceding the primary purpose in video games — the Manchester United head coach can take his choose of issues in the meanwhile.
His greatest fear shall be outcomes. And after going 18 months with out a dwelling league defeat on the finish of his Sporting CP reign, he is now suffered two Premier League losses in three weeks at Old Trafford. After Nottingham Forest received right here at the beginning of December, AFC Bournemouth added to Amorim’s woes with a 3-0 victory of their very own on Sunday.
This was maybe extra damaging than the Forest defeat, when United had been nonetheless within the hunt for an equaliser late within the sport in opposition to Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect after mounting one thing resembling a comeback. But there was little or no response in opposition to Bournemouth and the sport ended with the supporters who made the 4½-hour journey from the south coast shouting “Olé” with each accomplished go.
When the ultimate whistle blew, it was greeted with boos from the house supporters whereas the travelling followers sang: “Manchester United, it is occurred once more.” It was in December final yr that Bournemouth got here to Old Trafford and received 3-0.
“I felt it for the reason that first minute there’s quite a lot of nervousness,” Amorim stated postmatch. “Everyone is struggling within the stadium. The followers, the gamers, all people. It’s a troublesome second however now we have to face it and put together for the following sport.
“It is my duty to teach them. Of course we wish to enhance. In this second, every thing is so onerous, a membership like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at dwelling. It’s actually powerful for everyone. And after all the followers are actually upset and drained. You can really feel it within the stadium.”
United kicked off with the possibility of claiming consecutive Premier League victories for the primary time this season, having received at Manchester City every week in the past. But if the dramatic comeback on the Etihad lifted the temper then Amorim and his gamers have been introduced again to earth with a bang with back-to-back defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth within the house of 4 days. Spurs scored twice from set items of their 4-3 win within the Carabao Cup on Thursday and it took Bournemouth lower than half-hour to do the identical right here.
United shall be sad at referee Craig Pawson’s determination to award a free kick for Tyrell Malacia‘s problem on Adam Smith, however there may be little excuse for what occurred subsequent; Ryan Christie floated a cross into the field and Dean Huijsen acquired in entrance of Joshua Zirkzee to go previous André Onana.
It’s turning into a significant difficulty for Amorim and his set piece coach, Carlos Fernandes, to unravel. Bournemouth’s opener was the seventh purpose United have conceded immediately from or instantly after a set piece within the final six video games. It’s as much as 17 for the calendar yr.
“We are engaged on that and we’re going to enhance on that,” stated Amorim when requested about that damning statistic. “But we did not lose due to set items. We lose as a result of we create extra possibilities and we did not rating after which on this second every thing is in opposition to us they usually can rating. Like in opposition to Tottenham, we create possibilities additionally. It’s a troublesome second.”
Huijsen’s header additionally meant United went 1-0 down for the sixth sport in a row. The identical factor occurred at Tottenham, who then scored twice in eight minutes within the second half because it went from 1-0 to 3-0 within the blink of an eye fixed. It was comparable in opposition to Bournemouth.
The guests weathered a interval of United stress on the finish of the primary half throughout which Bruno Fernandes missed numerous good possibilities. But having finished that, like Spurs, Bournemouth scored twice in a matter of minutes within the second half and a sport which United had been nonetheless in at 1-0 down was out of the blue out of attain.
Like set items, it is a problem which will not go away. Under Amorim, United have conceded two in 20 minutes in opposition to Arsenal, two in seven minutes in opposition to Forest, two in eight minutes in opposition to Tottenham and two in three minutes in opposition to Bournemouth.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola stated afterward that the 2 fast objectives made the scoreline look extra comfy than it was and gave particular point out to the efficiency of on-loan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
“It was extra stage than it appears to be like,” he stated. “Kepa’s efficiency has helped us to win like this. Last season, the sport was rather more open. This was extra mature.”
Iraola’s evaluation shall be little comfort to Amorim, who has misplaced 4 of his previous six video games after changing Erik ten Hag in November.
United shall be within the backside half of the desk on Christmas Day for the primary time since 1989 with tough video games in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United to return earlier than the tip of 2024.
As Amorim sat within the information convention theatre at Old Trafford attempting his greatest to dissect the defeat to Bournemouth, the roof started to leak. It summed up the rising listing of issues going through United’s coach as the fact of the job he has taken on begins to chew. The storm is right here.
