Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim took the blame for his team’s mistakes in marking set pieces, after a 2-3 drubbing against Nottingham Forest in their Premier League clash at home on Saturday.
“When this happens it’s my fault because I’m responsible. We tried to do it in the best way, we did a lot of work in this area because we saw it in (the) Arsenal (game), and it is really hard,” Amorim told a news conference.
“In the beginning of the game (against Forest), you suffer on the first play, it’s really hard then to put energy in the team, but we managed to draw the game, and then in the second half the same thing.”
Defending set pieces has quickly become one of Amorim’s main priorities, with the team conceding both goals through set pieces in United’s 0-2 loss to Arsenal in the previous game.
In Saturday’s contest, Forest needed just 90 seconds to score from a corner at Old Trafford.
United’s lack of height and power at the back is exposed at free kicks and corners and Amorim rejigged his team in the second half, bringing on centre-back Harry Maguire at 3-2 down in a sign that he was worried about conceding again.
“We put Harry Maguire on because of set pieces, to control more who was winning all the first balls. The only way to attack Nottingham was transitions, to try and win first and second balls. When Harry was on the pitch he won all the first balls,” Amorim said.
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However, by then the damage had already been done.
A simple screen had freed up Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic, who brushed off Lisandro Martinez to score.
Martinez and goalkeeper Andre Onana were then both at fault for Forest’s third goal in the 54th minute, a looping header from Chris Wood that one of them should have dealt with.
Wood of Nottingham Forest scores his team’s third goal past Andre Onana of Manchester United during their Premier League match at Old Trafford.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Wood of Nottingham Forest scores his team’s third goal past Andre Onana of Manchester United during their Premier League match at Old Trafford.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
“Everybody knows the emphasis on set-pieces these days, it’s huge, a big avenue for and against. We did well today,” delighted New Zealand striker Wood said.
Amorim insisted he would stick to his principles, despite his shaky start at Old Trafford.
“This happens with a lot of clubs and we have to manage to continue doing the same things in improving the team, because this will turn around,” he said.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com