Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim launched a furious critique of his team after they squandered a vital victory in a 1-1 Premier League draw with West Ham United on Thursday evening. The result, which leaves the Red Devils languishing in eighth place, prompted a stark admission from the boss that his side's display was simply not up to standard.
Missed Opportunity and Inconsistency Criticised
Amorim did not hide his frustration at a major missed chance to climb the league table. A win would have propelled United to fifth, but the single point from the London Stadium keeps them in the bottom half of the standings. The Portuguese coach pinpointed a lack of consistency as the core issue, stating his team's level "was not constant" and that they lost control at key moments in both halves.
"We had the chance to close the game and we didn't," Amorim said, referencing Diogo Dalot's second-half opener. He insisted his players needed to defend further up the pitch to see out the match, instead of retreating and inviting pressure onto their penalty area.
Set-Piece Woes and Physical Deficiencies Exposed
The manager acknowledged a pre-match concern that came back to haunt his side: defending set-pieces. Amorim admitted his team has a significant height disadvantage compared to West Ham, and despite preparing for the threat, they conceded the equaliser from exactly that situation.
He also highlighted a worrying lack of physicality in midfield battles. "We were losing second balls," Amorim complained, explaining that once West Ham opted for a direct approach, United struggled to regain possession and control the tempo of the game.
Attacking Failings and a Must-Win Demand
The criticism extended to United's work in the final third. Amorim was scathing about the quality of his team's crossing, suggesting that even with good possession, the delivery into the box was poor. He implied the current squad lacks players with the specific attributes to capitalise on such opportunities.
Looking ahead, the manager issued a clear demand for an instant turnaround. With a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the horizon, Amorim stressed that every game is now crucial to stay in the top-four race. He labelled the upcoming fixture a must-win to prevent the team from falling further adrift of the Champions League places.
The full-time whistle at the London Stadium clearly signalled more than just two dropped points for Ruben Amorim; it revealed a catalogue of deficiencies he believes must be addressed immediately if Manchester United's season is to be salvaged.
