Amorim Takes Responsibility for Manchester United's Woeful Defeat

Manchester United's dismal season continued with a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, with manager Ruben Amorim taking responsibility for the defeat.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim assumed full responsibility for his team's dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth on Sunday. The loss was a humiliating experience for the Red Devils, with thousands of disgruntled fans leaving the stadium long before the final whistle.

The defeat was sealed by goals from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert, and Antoine Semenyo, leaving Manchester United languishing in 13th place in the Premier League table. This unfortunate position marks a historic low for the club, as it is the first time Manchester United has found itself in the bottom half of the table at Christmas in Premier League history.

“It is my responsibility to coach them,” Amorim said.

“Of course we want to improve. In this moment, everything is so hard, a club like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at home, it's really tough for everybody.

“And of course the fans are really disappointed and tired. You can feel it in the stadium, and I understand that, but we have to face it.”

Manchester United's struggles with set pieces continued on Sunday, as Dean Huijsen headed home from a corner kick in the 29th minute. This goal marked the 17th time United have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League in 2024, a dismal record that stands as the most by the team in a single calendar year in the league's 32-year history.

Following the match, manager Ruben Amorim expressed his frustration, stating, “Without conceding nothing to the opponent, and then one set piece makes us more nervous, all the stadium, I felt it since the first minute. There's a lot of anxiety, that's normal because of the context and it's really disappointing.” Amorim's concerns were compounded by United's inability to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, despite having 23 shots to Bournemouth's 10. Captain Bruno Fernandes was particularly profligate, firing a flurry of shots just wide of the net late in the first half.

Amorim attributed the team's struggles to mental factors, saying it's “a lot of mental.” This assessment suggests that the team's issues run deeper than just tactical or technical problems, and that a psychological barrier may be hindering their performance on the pitch.

“You can feel it, not just the players, the fans ... this moment, everybody in the club is tired of these moments,” he said. “We have to face it and focus on the next game. We know what to do, we have to address a lot of things but we are ready to do it. We already knew that the challenge is big.”

Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim omitted Marcus Rashford from the squad for the third consecutive game, fueling speculation that the forward's future at the club may be uncertain.

“I want to see the best of my players,” Amorim said of the decision. ”And then I try different things with different players, so that is my focus.”