PACE YOURSELF
Ruben Amorim blasts four Man Utd stars including captain Bruno Fernandes as manager bemoans ‘lack of speed’
Two particular Southampton players terrorised the foursome
RUBEN AMORIM blasted four stars as he bemoaned Manchester United’s “lack of speed” in their dramatic comeback win against Southampton.
The Red Devils were second best for most of the match as bottom-place Saints turned on the style at Old Trafford.
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Ivan Juric’s men missed several chances before taking the lead through a Manuel Ugarte own goal.
But an incredible hat-trick by Amad Diallo from the 82nd minute onwards saw United turn the game on its head at the last moment, sealing a 3-1 win for the hosts.
Despite the positive result, manager Amorim was less than pleased at how easily United were ripped apart on the break.
The likes of Tyler Dibling and Kamaldeen Sulemana had a field day on the flanks, with the latter making mincemeat of £60million summer signing Leny Yoro on multiple occasions.
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And speaking after the final whistle, Amorim targeted the French centre-back alongside midfield trio Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes for failing to pull their weight in defensive transitions.
The Portuguese tactician said: “We have difficulties to press high. This team is not used to doing that.
“It seems like a lack of enthusiasm, Ugarte is late, Mainoo is late, Bruno going outside and the ball is inside, one transition and Leny Yoro cannot catch the guy.
“These small things push the team behind and we get nervous without the ball.
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“But then when you have one goal or one opportunity, you feel like the team can better control the game.
“I want to be fair with my players. Today was not a lack of enthusiasm, it was a lack of speed and sometimes lack of control of the game.
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“The players are not used to playing like that. You have to cover a lot of space, you have to change which player is jumping in the press.
“With the ball today, we saw we had some patterns when the ball is in the sides of the pitch but then we lose the duels.
“It’s hard to explain it now. We don’t have the training. It’s a different system and it’s so completely different from what they are used to doing.
“I don’t know how long it will take but you can understand the profile sometimes are not the right ones but we have to improve players and we know the situation of the club.”
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