.” This statement echoed the team’s collective effort and the bond between players and supporters during challenging times.
Amorim’s Reflections on Team Performance
Ruben Amorim, in his post-match press conference, reflected on the key moments of the game. He acknowledged the anxiety he felt when Patrick Dorgu touched the ball, citing differences between Dorgu’s performances for Denmark and Manchester United. “When I see them training they are doing so much better than in games,” Amorim stated. “Then Patrick, when I see him playing for the national team, he’s scored a great goal against Scotland, the decision that he made under pressure was completely different to the decision(s) he’s making in our team.” This insight into Amorim’s strategic thinking highlights his efforts to address player inconsistencies and improve overall performance.
Amorim also praised Bruno Fernandes for his pivotal role in the victory. “Casemiro started alongside him in midfield with Senne Lammens completing the XI in goal,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion and individual contributions. This win was described by Amorim as a significant milestone: “It’s massive,” he said, “We needed the three points after the performance and the result we had last week.” The coach expressed relief at securing the first victory since October, which moved United into seventh place in the Premier League table with 21 points from their opening 13 matches.
Reflecting on his side’s win, Amorim cut a relieved figure. “I felt in the last 10 minutes of the first half that the opponent was struggling, and that they would struggle in the second half,” he said. “We had that feeling, and we needed to do something to change the way we were playing.” He highlighted the importance of changing the team’s intensity and quality in connecting play, particularly in Zirkzee’s contribution.
The victory over Crystal Palace brought much-needed momentum to Manchester United.
With a three-point cushion over third-place Chelsea, Amorim and his squad will aim to build on this win as they continue their Premier League campaign. The strategic decisions made by the coach, such as Diogo Dalot’s deployment, underscore the importance of tactical flexibility in achieving success.
