- Ruben Amorim praises Manchester United’s progress after a dramatic FA Cup penalty shootout win over Arsenal.
- United’s improvement, particularly in set-piece defense, is a positive sign following early struggles.
- Key contributions from Altay Bayindir and Joshua Zirkzee, who faced recent criticism, were crucial in the victory.
- Amorim addresses Marcus Rashford’s absence from the squad, stating his future at United is uncertain.
Ruben Amorim, the manager of Manchester United, expressed optimism following his team’s dramatic FA Cup penalty shootout victory over Arsenal on Sunday, which he believes signals positive progress after a challenging start to his tenure at Old Trafford. Despite a series of false starts under previous managers Erik ten Hag and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Amorim is confident that his squad is on the right path.
United’s early performances under Amorim were mixed, with a three-game unbeaten run followed by a rough patch of results, including an unlikely victory over Manchester City. However, the team bounced back with an impressive display against Liverpool and followed it up with a resilient performance at Arsenal, keeping their FA Cup defense alive.
Amorim highlighted the team’s significant improvement from their 2-0 league defeat to Arsenal the previous month, where both of the Gunners’ goals came from set pieces. “We were better in set pieces today, more aggressive,” he said. “We showed a different spirit, even with 10 men, and we are improving on that aspect.”
Key to the victory were goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and forward Joshua Zirkzee, both of whom had been under scrutiny in recent weeks. Bayindir was blamed for United’s League Cup exit against Tottenham Hotspur, and Zirkzee was booed off in a previous match against Newcastle. However, both players stepped up when it mattered most, with Zirkzee converting a crucial penalty. Amorim used their turnaround as a reminder to the squad that fortunes can change quickly in football: “Your life as a footballer has cycles and moments… Your time will come,” he said.
Amorim also addressed the continued absence of Marcus Rashford from the squad, noting that while Rashford is a valued player at the club, decisions on team selection must be made. “He has to work, he has to represent his club, and he loves his club, but I have to make choices,” Amorim stated, leaving uncertainty about Rashford’s future at Manchester United.
