In his recent press conference, Manchester United’s manager Ruben Amorim addressed the upcoming FA Cup match against Fulham this weekend.
Fresh off a tightly contested victory over Ipswich Town, United will be eager to reproduce their previous encounter against Fulham, which ended in a comfortable 1-0 win, courtesy of a late goal from Lisandro Martinez.
With several top teams already eliminated from the tournament, United find themselves in a promising position to contend for the FA Cup, particularly after what has been a challenging season under Amorim’s leadership.
Amorim also commented on winger Alejandro Garnacho, who will be treating his teammates to dinner as a consequence of his swift exit to the tunnel following his substitution in the midweek win over Ipswich.
“He came to my office,” Amorim disclosed. “I conducted some inquiries. He (Garnacho) went to the dressing room, watched the match, and then headed home. It’s not a serious issue, but I reminded him that here at Manchester United, every little thing counts. Perception matters, perception matters.”
“He’ll be paying for the team’s dinner. That’s the resolution.”
The remarks made by Roy Keane regarding Bruno Fernandes’ leadership of the club stirred significant attention this week, but Amorim dismissed them, asserting that his perspective as head coach holds far more weight.
“I’ve heard about that. I see things differently. Bruno is incredibly important to us and the club. He’s performing well amidst challenging circumstances and is always eager to shoulder responsibility.”
“I understand that, at times, as a captain, he may express himself with gestures, but mostly it stems from frustration over this year and the last. He’s passionate about winning, and it can be difficult to manage that frustration.”
“Opinions vary. Roy Keane holds high expectations given his time at the club, which is perfectly normal. However, my view differs, and I believe it carries more significance than Roy Keane’s because I am the coach.”
The Portuguese manager then provided a brief update on team availability ahead of the match, confirming that several players continue their recovery.
“No one new is back just yet. They are still working on their recovery for the upcoming matches.”
“The FA Cup is crucial for us, but indeed, every game matters. Just from the last victory, the feeling of winning, has transformed our training approach over recent days.”
“We aim to progress to the next round, securing two wins at home—especially here at Old Trafford, we definitely need that feeling.”
Amorim also addressed Patrick Dorgu’s recent red card, emphasising that while such incidents are unfortunate, he views Dorgu as a pivotal player for the club’s future.
“It’s business as usual. No one wants a player to be sent off, as playing with ten men can be quite challenging, plus it means we’ll be without him for three matches. Naturally, there’s a lot of noise surrounding Manchester United, and every situation becomes magnified. But for me, it’s all part of the game.”
“He knows the gravity of the situation. When he walks into the dressing room, he has already processed it—he communicates with me without saying a word. He’s frustrated and upset, but he’s still working hard and preparing for the games ahead. He will become a vital player for us.”
The conversation then shifted to former United manager Erik ten Hag’s recent assertion about players being “soft,” specifically regarding Garnacho’s behaviour after the Ipswich match.
“He’s a young player who will learn. What’s essential is that he spoke with me the next morning. We must consider the context and the players’ ages.”
“They need to improve and recognise that perception at this club is crucial, but as I mentioned, dealing with these situations can happen the next day, so we need to move forward.”
“It’s a different landscape for players today. In the past, it was merely newspapers; now, social media inundates them with news. You can’t log into social media without encountering updates or images, and if they encounter negative coverage, it’s easy to fixate on it. Even with a plethora of positive feedback, just one negative remark can overshadow the good.”
“It’s quite challenging for them. Some might label it as softness, but they’re exposed to criticism that can be overwhelming. They need support in navigating this reality. It’s the nature of modern football, and they must be prepared to handle it.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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