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1 month ago
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To Ruben Amorim’s recent buzzwords of “suffer” and “storm” Manchester United’s manager can add “defending” after a rearguard horror show culpable for all three Nottingham Forest goals.
As Amorim had mentioned before kick-off, the blustery conditions were no excuse, as the Old Trafford bowl offers protection, while André Onana, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martínez and Leny Yoro are elite players.
Yet the goalkeeper and three central defenders made errors that left United chasing the contest throughout and though they finished strongly the finesse required to engineer a late equaliser was absent – Martínez’s flashing volley their nearest miss.
In citing how United are not currently a “massive team” Amorim was preparing for displays like this. Judging by how Forest prospered, England’s 20-times record champions will remain rather small for some time longer.
Amorim has talked, too, of learning about his players. Well, after both goals in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Arsenal derived from corners, Martínez and De Ligt did zero to impress by losing Nikola Milenkovic for Elliot Anderson’s second-minute delivery from the right quadrant. Up the defender rose for a free header to beat a stationary Onana.
The head coach, too, is culpable for this as his job description takes in the drilling of set-piece resistance. For someone of his repute to oversee three successive goals from corners is a black mark against him.
His selection in midweek was questionable, too. After scoring twice in United’s last home game, Sunday’s 4-0 trouncing of Everton, Amorim left out Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee at Arsenal and he did the same now.
Instead, Rasmus Højlund and Alejandro Garnacho were retained in the frontline. The former, in for Zirkzee up front, missed a gilded chance when Bruno Fernandes scampered forward and tapped to Garnacho, who floated the ball in where the Dane would want. But, jumping, he completely missed a point-blank header and Forest escaped.
As in the opening period at Arsenal, United pinged the ball about, pushing their opponents around, and the equaliser came from this. De Ligt found Fernandes, who recycled the ball to Manuel Ugarte. He threaded Garnacho in behind a dawdling rearguard, the Argentinian overran the ball, Matz Sels blocked his effort, and Højlund’s finish hit a gaping goal.
Yoro, though, then became the last of Amorim’s three centre-backs to be beaten aerially at a set piece, on his full debut. This was a Murillo free-kick spiralled into United’s area: the Frenchman was bested by Ryan Yates, who turned the ball back over. Jota Silva’s header hit the bar.
Inches lower and Amorim would have to field queries about yet another concession at a dead ball and there was a further close call when Murillo missed after a delivery from the right.
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Towards the end of the half, Garnacho fluffed a shot and Fernandes crashed a free-kick off the bar but these were moments, their early control now only a memory.
Forest’s second came in the second minute of the second half and derived from the haplessness of Fernandes and Onana. Aiming for Yoro, United’s captain located Callum Hudson-Odoi instead. The winger passed to Morgan Gibbs-White and though there was some curl on his shot, this was marginal and Onana still allowed the ball through.
Two-one soon became 3-1 to the impressive visitors and this time Yoro, De Ligt, Martínez and Onana made mugs of themselves. It was too simple: Gibbs-White stood the ball up to the far post, Yoro failed to challenge Chris Wood and his steered header was missed – farcically by De Ligt, Martínez and Onana who all looked to blame each other.
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Amorim hauled off Garnacho for Rashford. Just over half an hour remained for United to pull this from the fire and the change worked instantly. A sublime Fernandes volleyed pass took Amad Diallo into Forest’s area. He waited, returned possession to the Portuguese, and a pirouette and finish into the left corner was admirable.
By the end, Zirkzee, Rashford and Højlund were the front three but to no avail. It left you wondering why Amorim dropped the first two after their game-winning performances against Everton. Since then, United have lost twice.
