MANCHESTER, England — Ruben Amorim wasn’t kidding when he stated “the storm will come.” Marcus Rashford, set items, missed possibilities, conceding the primary purpose in video games — the Manchester United head coach can take his decide of issues in the intervening time.
His greatest fear will likely be outcomes. And after going 18 months with out a house league defeat on the finish of his Sporting CP reign, he is now suffered two Premier League losses in three weeks at Outdated Trafford. After Nottingham Forest gained right here at first of December, AFC Bournemouth added to Amorim’s woes with a 3-0 victory of their very own on Sunday.
This was maybe extra damaging than the Forest defeat, when United have been nonetheless within the hunt for an equaliser late within the sport towards Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet after mounting one thing resembling a comeback. However there was little or no response towards Bournemouth and the sport ended with the supporters who made the four-and-a-half-hour journey from the south coast shouting “Olé” with each accomplished move.
When the ultimate whistle went, it was greeted with boos from the house supporters whereas the travelling followers sang: “Manchester United, it is occurred once more.” It was in December final yr that Bournemouth got here to Outdated Trafford and gained 3-0.
“I felt it for the reason that first minute there’s numerous nervousness,” Amorim stated postmatch. “Everyone seems to be struggling within the stadium. The followers, the gamers, everyone. It is a powerful second however we’ve to face it and put together for the subsequent sport.
“It’s my duty to teach them. In fact we need to enhance. On this second, all the pieces is so arduous, a membership like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at house. It is actually powerful for everyone. And naturally the followers are actually dissatisfied and drained. You may really feel it within the stadium.”
United kicked off with the prospect of claiming consecutive Premier League victories for the primary time this season, having gained at Manchester Metropolis every week in the past. But when the dramatic comeback on the Etihad lifted the temper then Amorim and his gamers have been introduced again to earth with a bang with back-to-back defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth within the area of 4 days. Spurs scored twice from set items of their 4-3 win within the Carabao Cup on Thursday and it took Bournemouth lower than half-hour to do the identical right here.
United will likely be sad at referee Craig Pawson’s choice to award a free kick for Tyrell Malacia‘s problem on Adam Smith, however there may be little excuse for what occurred subsequent; Ryan Christie floated a cross into the field and Dean Huijsen received in entrance of Joshua Zirkzee to move previous André Onana.
It is changing into a serious concern for Amorim and his set-piece coach, Carlos Fernandes, to unravel. Bournemouth’s opener was the seventh purpose United have conceded immediately from or instantly after a set piece within the final six video games. It is as much as 17 for the calendar yr.
“We’re engaged on that and we’re going to enhance on that,” stated Amorim when requested about that damning statistic. “However we did not lose due to set items. We lose as a result of we create extra possibilities and we did not rating after which on this second all the pieces is towards us they usually can rating. Like towards Tottenham, we create possibilities additionally. It is a tough second.”
Huijsen’s header additionally meant United went 1-0 down for the sixth sport in a row. The identical factor occurred at Tottenham, who then scored twice in eight minutes within the second half because it went from 1-0 to 3-0 within the blink of an eye fixed. It was comparable towards Bournemouth.
The guests weathered a interval of United stress on the finish of the primary half throughout which Bruno Fernandes missed various good possibilities. However having carried out that, like Spurs, Bournemouth scored twice in a matter of minutes within the second half and a sport which United have been nonetheless in at 1-0 down was all of a sudden out of attain.
Like set items, it is a problem which will not go away. Beneath Amorim, United have conceded two in 20 minutes towards Arsenal, two in seven minutes towards Forest, two in eight minutes towards Tottenham and two in three minutes towards Bournemouth.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola stated afterward that the 2 fast objectives made the scoreline look extra comfy than it was and gave particular point out to the efficiency of on-loan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
“It was extra stage than it seems to be,” he stated. “Kepa’s efficiency has helped us to win like this. Final season, the sport was way more open. This was extra mature.”
Iraola’s evaluation will likely be little comfort to Amorim, who has misplaced 4 of his final six video games after changing Erik ten Hag in November.
United will likely be within the backside half of the desk on Christmas Day for the primary time since 1989 with difficult video games towards Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United to come back earlier than the top of 2024.
As Amorim sat within the information convention theatre at Outdated Trafford attempting his greatest to dissect the defeat to Bournemouth, the roof started to leak. It summed up the rising checklist of issues dealing with United’s head coach as the truth of the job he is taken on begins to chunk. The storm is right here.