Ruben Amorim has issued a stark warning to his Manchester United players, declaring there will be 'no excuses' if they fail to secure a victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
United's Troubling Away Record
The Red Devils travel to South London burdened by a dismal run of form away from Old Trafford. The team has managed just one win in their last 11 away fixtures, a statistic compounded by recent draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. Their record at Selhurst Park is particularly concerning, with United failing to win in their last five visits to the ground.
However, Amorim is in no mood for sympathy, pointing out that Oliver Glasner's Palace side are themselves at a potential disadvantage. The Eagles are back in action just three days after fielding a strong line-up in their Europa League defeat to Strasbourg on Thursday.
Amorim's Demands for Improvement
The United boss, drawing from his own experience of a long European campaign last season, was unequivocal. 'In our club it's the same thing because last year we had to win every game all the time,' Amorim stated. 'And we took a lot of things, a lot of criticism because we were not winning. So in our club there are no excuses.'
He further emphasised that the team's involvement, or lack thereof, in European competition is irrelevant to the standard required. 'The advantage and the disadvantage of not being in Europe, so there are no excuses. Last year or this year, we have always to win games.'
Analysing the root of the poor away performances, Amorim highlighted a key issue. 'I felt during this year that when we played at home, the intensity was higher. And I felt in this game at home (against Everton) the intensity was not at the same level. So I think it's something that we need to work on.'
He admitted that pinpointing a single cause is difficult. 'It's hard to point one thing why we are not winning away. There's a lot of issues. We are improving but we need to know how to finish the games in order to win.'
Contrasting Fortunes with Glasner's System
When questioned on why Oliver Glasner has enjoyed more success implementing a back-three system at Palace—leading them to an FA Cup win and a fifth-place Premier League standing—Amorim was pragmatic.
'We play a different way,' he countered. 'You can understand that by the data. But it's hard to explain everything. Like you said, it's a different club and they are doing things better than us, so that is quite simple.'
He elaborated on the tactical nuances, stating, 'You don't say that all 4-3-3 teams play in the same way, right? We play in a different moment, we defend in a different space, we try to attack in a different way. They are just doing things better than us.'
Despite the contrast, the United manager confirmed he is always seeking to learn, noting his previous encounter with Glasner. 'I play against him at Frankfurt with Sporting so I know the players. I take inspiration from everyone. I have six years as a professional manager so I'm always trying to learn to improve my team.'
