'We have to survive' — Amorim signals a stark warning after Wolves feast on faulty United
Match League Potts/pa Manchester United After Left) (second Ruben Pic: The Molineux Wolverhampton Wire Fans At Amorim Applaud And Players Nick His Manager Stadium, The Premier
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has admitted the team are in a survival battle as he wrote off the team’s chances of qualifying for Europe.
United suffered their third-straight defeat and the 39-year-old says there are “lot of things” wrong at Old Trafford after they lost captain Bruno Fernandes to a third sending off this season.
The Portuguese was dismissed in the 47th minute for a second bookable offence and United, who barely threatened all match, never looked like scoring thereafter.
Man of the match Matheus Cunha scored direct from a corner in the 58th minute before setting up Hee Chan Hwang to score at the death.
United have now lost five of their 10 games under Amorim and remain mired in the bottom half of the table, having have conceded six goals in their last two outings without a reply.
It’s the first time the club have been outside the top half of the top flight at Christmas since 1989 and the lowest the Red Devils have been at this stage of the year since 1986.
“A lot of things are missing,” said Amorim. "We have to work and win games to sell the idea to the players. The idea needs time. This will be a tough moment and we are far from the end of this moment.
“The players need time to train. The way of playing is really hard on them and on the staff also, to pass all the information to them. And when you don’t have results, it’s even harder for them, so we have to continue.
“In this moment we have to survive and worry about the teams around us. We have started with a new idea of playing without any time to train and a lot of games. It’s a long journey and we have to fight these bad moments.”
Asked about the fading possibility of qualifying for Europe, Amorim added: “No. We have to work on a lot of things in our club, inside and outside of the pitch. So let’s use every minute of training to try to improve the team.”
Fernandes will be suspended for Monday’s visit of Newcastle United and Amorim was sympathetic about his skipper’s actions.
“It’s always frustrating but it can happen,” he said. “He wants to go to the ball and the other guy touched the ball first.” United enjoyed 66 per cent possession in a goalless first half played in swirling fog, but forced just one on-target effort.
Cunha drew the foul for Fernandes’ first yellow card after beating Noussair Mazraoui. Diogo Dalot had United’s opening chance, forcing a tremendous save from Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa with a curling effort from 25 yards.
But United came under pressure and goalkeeper Andre Onana had to tip over Jorgen Strand Larsen’s header.
Nelson Semedo’s 30-yard shot deflected off Manuel Ugarte, which looped up to fly just wide, went close to handing Wolves a 40th-minute lead.
Then came Fernandes’ fall from grace. The United captain caught fellow Portuguese Nelson Semedo late.
Wolves’ response exposed a familiar failing for United as they conceded for the tenth time from a set-piece this season – and again direct from a corner, just like Son Heung-Min did against them for Tottenham Hotspur recently.
Cunha’s inswinging corner flew into the top corner of the net with Onana flailing hopelessly, concentrating on trying to shove Matt Doherty out of the way rather than saving the ball.
United’s misery was complete in the 98th minute. Substitute Tommy Doyle – and ex-Manchester City youngster – won the ball from Alejandro Garnacho deep inside his own half and found Cunha with half of the pitch to spare. He drew Onana before unselfishly squaring to Hee Chan Hwang to finish.
New Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira has led the team to back-to-back victories with two clean sheets since replacing Gary O’Neil.
He said: “This is special because of the spirit of the team. We see the players are ready to suffer, run and compete for each ball.
“Cunha is a top, special player who can make the difference in the smaller details.”
Sa 8; Doherty 8, Bueno 8, Toti 8; Semedo 8 (Bellegarde 90+2 minutes, 6), Andre 8, J Gomes 7 (Doyle 73 minutes, 6), R Ait-Nouri 7 (R Gomes 87 minutes, 6); Cunha 9, J Strand-Larsen 7 (Dawson 90+2 minutes, 6), Guedes 7 (Hee Chan Hwang 73 minutes, 6). Johnstone, Forbs, Meupiyou, Lima.
Onana 5; Martínez 6, Maguire 6, Yoro 6; Dalot 6 (Antony 63 minutes, 6), Mainoo 6 (Casemiro 63 minutes, 6), Ugarte 5 (Eriksen 63 minutes, 6), Mazraoui 6; Bruno Fernandes (c) 4, Højlund 5 (Zirkzee 79 minutes, 6); Diallo 5 (Garnacho 79 minutes, 6). Bayındır, Collyer, Evans, de Ligt.
Tony Harrington 8.