Despite playing with a man advantage for 77 minutes, United collapse at Old Trafford as manager Ruben Amorim questions his team’s hunger, focus and progress.
Manchester United’s problems deepened on Monday night after a 0-1 loss to Everton at Old Trafford. United played with a man advantage for majority of the game but still failed to control. Manager Ruben Amorim did not hide his frustration, warning that his team is “not even near” where they should be despite weeks of praise over their recent improvement.
Everton were reduced to 10 men early after Idrissa Gueye was sent off for clashing with teammate Michael Keane, a bizarre moment that left United with a golden chance to take control. Instead, they struggled from start to finish.
For 77 minutes, Amorim watched his players waste possession, miss chances, and make errors under no pressure. Young defenders Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro gave the ball away cheaply. Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes failed to produce key moments in attack. Amad Diallo made poor decisions after replacing the injured Matheus Cunha.
Up front, Joshua Zirkzee who was finally handed his first start could not take his chances and Kobbie Mainoo also failed to lift the midfield when he was brought on. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was also caught out on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half shot, the moment that decided the match.
United pushed late on, with Zirkzee forcing Jordan Pickford into a full-stretch save, but they never looked convincing.
After the match, Amorim reminded everyone that his warnings before the game were deliberate.
“I know the point we are in,” he said. “We are not there, not even near the point we should be to fight for the best positions. We have a lot to do, and today we were not perfect. We need perfection to win games.”
The defeat completes a worrying run. United led against both Nottingham Forest and Tottenham in recent games but failed to hold on, needing late goals to avoid losing. A win against Everton would have lifted them to fifth; instead, they remain stuck in mid-table.
It was also the first time in Premier League history that Manchester United have lost at Old Trafford after the opponent received a red card, a record that underlines the team’s deeper issues.
“Old Trafford was ready,” Amorim said. “Everyone was there to push us forward. But we were not ready.”
The manager even agreed with Everton boss David Moyes, who suggested the Gueye-Keane fight showed desire. Amorim said he would welcome the same level of intensity from his own squad.
“Fighting is not a bad thing,” he said. “It means you care. When you lose the ball, fight. I hope my players fight each other when they lose the ball.”
Amorim now fears the team could slip back into last season’s dark moments, when every game felt like a problem waiting to happen.
“I feel afraid of returning to that feeling of last season,” he admitted. “We need to work together. The players are trying, but we must be better.”
United travel to Crystal Palace next, knowing that another setback could erase all the progress they thought they were making.
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