Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has issued a clear message to his squad about the critical area requiring improvement, even as the team enjoys a five-match unbeaten streak. The Red Devils are preparing to host Everton on Monday in a Premier League clash that could potentially propel them into the coveted Champions League places.
Amorim's Half-Time Conundrum
Despite the positive atmosphere surrounding Old Trafford, a recurring pattern of vibrant first-half performances followed by insipid second-half showings has caught the Portuguese manager's attention. Amorim has pinpointed a drop in intensity and a problematic shift in mindset when his team is leading as the core issues.
After analysing topsy-turvy matches against Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham Hotspur, Amorim told the Premier League: "I think we lose intensity." He also cited the loss of key, experienced players like Casemiro and Harry Maguire to injury as a contributing factor that is often overlooked.
The manager elaborated on the mental block, stating, "We think about 'let's not suffer a goal' and our mindset should be 'we have one goal, we must get another and have the opportunity to kill the game'. So it is mental but it is also physical, we need to improve in that aspect also." Solving this problem is seen as essential to prolonging their positive run of form.
Onana's Manchester United Career Deemed Over
In other significant news, former United favourite Gordon Strachan has delivered a brutal verdict on goalkeeper Andre Onana, claiming the Cameroonian has no future at the club. Onana has featured just once for United this season—in a shock loss to Grimsby Town—before being shipped out on loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor in September.
With deputy Senne Lammens impressing between the sticks, Strachan believes Onana's time at Old Trafford is finished. "I think Andre Onana has played his last game for Manchester United," the Scotsman told Esports News.
He questioned Onana's presence and desire, adding, "At United you must have a presence in goal... I don't think he had that. A big problem for me is that I'm not sure Onana really wanted to be at Old Trafford. He looked like he'd rather be somewhere else... I'd be shocked if I saw him play again for the club."
Rashford Earns 'Incredible' Praise from England Teammate
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford's career resurgence at Barcelona is earning him plaudits back home. The 28-year-old forward, nearing a year since his last United appearance, has registered 15 goals and assists in just 16 games across all competitions for the Spanish giants.
His scintillating form has reignited his international career, and his England teammate Eberechi Eze was left in awe during the recent international break. Appearing on the Beast Mode On podcast, the Arsenal star said, "I've always known he's a good player, but for that first camp, I remember going away like, 'okay, this guy's part of some other stuff.'"
Eze reserved special praise for Rashford's technique, concluding, "The way he strikes the ball. The way he's running with the ball, how he operates is. He's an incredible, incredible player."
As the Premier League's return looms, all eyes will be on Old Trafford to see if Amorim can fix his side's consistency issues and if the feel-good factor can translate into a crucial victory against Everton.
