Ruben Amorim has seen his Manchester United team lose four out of their last five league games at Old Trafford. PA
Ruben Amorim has seen his Manchester United team lose four out of their last five league games at Old Trafford. PA
Ruben Amorim has seen his Manchester United team lose four out of their last five league games at Old Trafford. PA
Ruben Amorim has seen his Manchester United team lose four out of their last five league games at Old Trafford. PA

Manchester United v Rangers: Amorim admits nervous players are ‘finding it harder to play at Old Trafford’


  • English
  • Arabic

Ruben Amorim has admitted his Manchester United players are finding if difficult to play at Old Trafford with the team's struggles on home turf now a huge problem.

United entertain Glasgow Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday having lost 3-1 at home to Brighton at the weekend – their fourth home defeat in five league games.

It was also United's sixth home loss in 12 games this season, their worst run of form since 1893-94, which is a major reason why they languish down in 13th place in the Premier League table.

After the Brighton loss, Amorim described United's form as “maybe the worst” in the 147-year history of the club.

The Portuguese coach has seen his team collect 11 points in 11 league games since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November. And ahead of taking on Scottish side Rangers, Amorim admits their Old Trafford form is a huge concern.

“We are more nervous playing at home than away because we've lost four games in five at home and it is getting harder,” he said on Wednesday.

“The first thing in my mind is that we need to score the first goal. If we score the first goal then that will change and we will play better at home.

“I think it is really clear – we are really anxious playing at home and it is getting harder to play at Old Trafford.”

When asked whether calling his team “nervous” is helpful to his players, the former Sporting Lisbon coach gave a bullish response.

“If you want I can be delusional and say different things,” he said. “I say it as I see it. I said it to the players and I said it to you – I think it's a good thing to be really honest.

“If you want me to say different things, I can start to do that because it is easier for me. If you are in the stadium you can feel it but I am not nervous, I am frustrated.”

Ten Hag was dismissed from his job due to poor results and the fact players are currently performing worse than under the Dutchman is not lost on Amorim.

A mini-revival at the start of January saw them draw at runaway leaders Liverpool, seal a penalty shoot-out win over Arsenal in the FA Cup and then beat Southampton in an all-too rare home victory.

But they were actually staring defeat in the face against rock-bottom Saints until a late Amad Diallo hat-trick turned the game on its head.

But there was no such rescue act against Brighton, who were helped by a dreadful error by United goalkeeper Andre Onana for Georginio Rutter's third goal.

“I am not taking responsibility away from the players,” Amorim added when asked about his post-match comments at the weekend.

“What I am saying is, the message you guys showed is that I was putting it on the players. What I am saying is, you have to look really hard to find a Manchester United team that in 10 games lost seven of them, and that is on me.

“It is the same players doing worse with a new coach. That is my only concern at the moment. I am not taking responsibility away from the players but we need to improve in the details and I've explained that.

“The way we play, we are too nervous with the ball. It wasn't the best point to make after that loss but it is what it is and I am like that all the time. I am really direct with things and I am saying in this moment, we are performing really bad and our results are really bad.

“It is everything together – the players, the staff, the technical staff. I am the biggest one responsible because I am the coach.”

Also speaking at the pre-match press conference was defender Harry Maguire, who admitted the team has been lacking focus in key moments this season.

“We have to stop giving away the first goal,” said the experienced England centre-half. “The first goal against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were set-plays, the first goal against Southampton was from a set-play.

“These aren't things that are tactically a problem – these are things that you have to go into a game focused on and mentally ready to win a football match.

“Football matches are sometimes defined on small margins and at the moment we aren't getting those because we aren't mentally focused enough to make them go our away.”

United are currently seventh out of 36 teams in the Europa League table after winning three and drawing three of their six games so far.

The top eight teams automatically qualify for the last-16 with the next 16 taking part in the knockout phase play-offs.

WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Power: 575bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh554,000

On sale: now

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Gold'

Director:Anthony Hayes

Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Updated: January 23, 2025, 6:50 AM`