Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insisted his side were “not boring” despite opening their Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Riccardo Calafiori’s decisive strike, capitalising on a costly mistake by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, secured all three points for Mikel Arteta’s side. But Amorim chose to highlight the improved intensity and creativity in his team’s display, particularly from new attacking signings.
Amorim: “We weren’t boring”
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Amorim praised his players for their bravery:
“The most important thing – we weren’t boring. I’m really proud of the guys. They were really brave in everything they did during the game. Congratulations for the performance, but not congratulations [for the result] because we lost at home.”
United attempted 22 shots, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo leading the line effectively, while substitute Benjamin Sesko also tested Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who produced seven saves. Amorim emphasised the progress compared to last season:
“We were more aggressive, we sprinted more, we pressed high, and we played one-on-one all game. With the ball, we had quality and we lost fewer balls in the build-up. It was a completely different game compared to last season.”
Keane: “Expectations are too low”
However, former United captain Roy Keane was far less forgiving, accusing the club of lowering standards.
“The expectations at United now are so low. Even Gary [Neville] said everyone is OK with a 1-0 defeat. That’s not good enough. They’ve got to do better,” Keane said on Sky Sports.
While he acknowledged encouraging signs from the new arrivals, Keane stressed that results must improve quickly.
“Some of the new signings gave encouragement. But no goals and another defeat – there are still problems there at United.”
Neville: “United were the better team”
In contrast, Gary Neville argued that United had shown clear improvement and were unlucky to lose.
“I thought United were the better team in terms of performance. Arsenal are resilient and can grind out 1-0 wins, but I saw plenty of positives. Cunha and Mbeumo showed they can handle big games at Old Trafford.”
Neville also praised Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes for their midfield display, and felt Amorim’s tactical system worked better than last season.
What’s next?
United will look to bounce back when they face Fulham on Super Sunday, August 24, in search of their first points of the new season.