I knew Bruno Fernandes wouldn’t miss two in a row, so I didn’t watch: Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim

LONDON – Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim claimed he did not watch Bruno Fernandes’ last-gasp penalty to earn his side a vital 3-2 Premier League home win over Burnley on Aug 30, because he knew that his Portuguese compatriot and captain would not miss.

Amorim, who also chose not to watch his team’s penalties in their League Cup second-round shoot-out loss at fourth-tier Grimsby in midweek, looked away from Fernandes’ 95th-minute spot kick, one week on from his skipper’s penalty miss in a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Fernandes made no mistake this time to give United their first win of the campaign.

“I like to see the image of the fans,” Amorim said when asked why he faced United’s famous Stretford End. “What has to be has to be.

“In that moment, I was thinking, it would be fair to win the game. And I did not think Bruno would miss a second in a row.”

Amorim looked every inch a manager under pressure as he reacted angrily to another goalkeeping error by Altay Bayindir that gifted Burnley a second-half equaliser to make it 2-2 at Old Trafford.

United took the lead from a Josh Cullen own goal, and a Lyle Foster equaliser did not last long before Bryan Mbeumo made it 2-1 for the home side. Jaidon Anthony then levelled things again for Burnley.

Amorim joined in jubilant celebrations at the final whistle after Fernandes found the net, but frustrations persisted in another match United should have made more comfortable given the chances they created.

The United boss, who admitted this week he sometimes “hates” his players, given how emotional he is after defeats, was much more positive this time around.

“It ended well, I think we deserved to win the game,” Amorim added. “We created a lot of chances, we should go to half-time with a bigger advantage.

“And then, everything in this moment, every possession near our box, they can score, we are in that moment, so we start always chasing a lot of things.

“When they (United players) put the effort, I will always love them. I think we need to understand that we should have always been on this level of effort.”

Off the pitch, Chelsea completed the signing of United outcast Alejandro Garnacho on Aug 30 for a reported £40 million (S$69.3 million) fee.

The Argentinian international, 21, has signed a seven-year deal.

In another match, Thomas Frank admitted Tottenham fans were right to boo after a 1-0 defeat by Bournemouth ended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

The Dane had enjoyed impressive wins over Burnley and Manchester City in his first league games in charge after narrowly losing the Uefa Super Cup game to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shoot-out.

Hired from Brentford in the close season to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, Frank finally got his first taste of the woes that afflicted Tottenham last season as Bournemouth sealed a surprise win in north London.

Tottenham supporters showed their frustration with jeers at half-time and after the final whistle.

“I prefer them not to boo, but I understand,” Frank said.

“It was not a good performance and they have high expectations, which is absolutely fair.

“I don’t think we hit the level we should. I think the players gave everything and put the heart out there, but football wise we didn’t hit our top level today.” REUTERS, AFP