Ruben Amorim Blames Defensive Mentality for Manchester United's Draw Against Fulham
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes his team's defensive mentality cost them victory in their 1-1 draw against Fulham.
“We have to grow up a lot as a team. For me the most important thing is that during the week they were working really hard. Today we worked really hard...”
Match Analysis
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes his team's defensive mentality cost them victory in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage. United initially took the lead through an own goal after Rodrigo Muniz's shot ricocheted off his own back, but their advantage was short-lived.
It finishes level 🤝
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 24, 2025
Turning Point
Fulham substitute Emile Smith Rowe equalized just 93 seconds after entering the fray, capitalizing on Manchester United's defensive lapse. Amorim expressed disappointment with his team's approach after taking the lead, feeling they abandoned their attacking principles and adopted a more defensive mindset. This change in strategy ultimately cost them the win.
Post Match Reaction
“We scored the goal and then we forgot about how we play. We want to win so badly and that is a good feeling, that we scored a goal and everyone on the pitch was thinking, 'Let's hold onto the advantage and try to win the game',” Amorim told the BBC.
Ruben explains where the Reds went wrong against Fulham, as we had to settle for a point in the capital 🧠
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 24, 2025
“For me that is the moment that we have to enjoy more and push the opponent. We tried to press the opponent super high and left a lot of space.
“We have to grow up a lot as a team. For me the most important thing is that during the week they were working really hard. Today we worked really hard and we are going to improve. The moment that changed the game was our goal.”
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United's skipper, missed a crucial penalty in the first half of their match against Fulham, sending the ball high over the bar. This miss marked the fifth time he has failed to score from the spot since his Premier League debut in 2020.
According to Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, Fernandes' struggle with the penalty was largely due to his unfamiliarity with missing such opportunities. “I think he is not used to missing penalties. He knows the importance, that this moment can have a huge impact on the team,” Amorim explained in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. Amorim also felt that Fernandes was visibly affected by the miss, noting that he seemed less involved in the game afterward due to the weight of responsibility.
24.1% - Ruben Amorim now has a Premier League win percentage of 24.1% (7 wins in 29 games), the exact same percentage as Neil Warnock (won 27 of 112 games), who was twice relegated from the Premier League. Worry. pic.twitter.com/4HfNUTncRv
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2025
Ruben Amorim believes his team's defensive mentality cost them victory in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw against Fulham. According to Amorim, Bruno Fernandes was visibly affected by missing a crucial penalty in the first half, which he thinks had a significant impact on the team. “During the game he was not happy because he was not involved and he has so much responsibility and I think he thought missing the penalty was huge for us.”
Despite trailing league leaders Arsenal by a significant margin early in the season, Amorim remains optimistic about Manchester United's prospects. The team's draw against Fulham showcased their potential, but Amorim is aware that they need to improve their consistency to compete with top teams. With several talented young players emerging from the academy, Amorim is keen on nurturing their skills to bolster the team's performance.
“We just want to win games. The players know they are playing in a club where they need to be better,” he said.
“I am really confident that we are going to get many wins.”
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