Manchester United must improve after Fulham win, says Ruben Amorim

LONDON – Ruben Amorim welcomed a rare clean sheet in Manchester United’s 1-0 win at Fulham on Jan 26 but did not gloss over his side’s need to improve despite a vital three points.

Lisandro Martinez’s deflected winner offered some respite to Amorim, who has won just four of his 12 English Premier League games in charge.

United climb to 12th in the table, now a comfortable 13 points above the bottom three.

But their performance was in keeping with many others under two different managers this season, against sides with a fraction of their budget.

There was little to get United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe excited as he watched on in west London, but victory does dispel any remaining notion that United could be dragged into a relegation battle.

“Not a great game and you can feel it, no great chances,” said Amorim.

“We tried to control the game, tried to play our game but we need to improve a lot with the ball.

“It’s really important (to keep a clean sheet) because clearly you are closer to winning games and getting confidence. We didn’t suffer too much today and that’s a good sign.

“It’s not just the clean sheet, it’s the way we defended.”

Fulham made the brighter start but were also guilty of a lack of penetration in a pedestrian 90 minutes.

Andre Onana returned in goal for the visitors, despite his error for Brighton & Hove Albion’s third goal in the Seagulls’ 3-1 win at Old Trafford on Jan 19.

The Cameroonian was forced into two early saves from the lively Alex Iwobi.

It took just before the hour mark for United to seriously threaten when Bruno Fernandes’ clever free kick slid under the Fulham wall but just the wrong side of the post.

Rasmus Hojlund’s return had been one of five changes made by Amorim from a dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Glasgow Rangers on Jan 23.

But the Dane’s goal drought extended to 11 games as he barely posed a threat before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.

Despite this, Amorim insisted the club’s 63-year-old goalkeeper coach has a better chance of making his team than outcast attacker Marcus Rashford.

England international Rashford has not played for United since Dec 12 and was again left out of the squad on Jan 26.

Even with United struggling to make headway against Fulham, Amorim insisted goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital would have been a better option.

“Today on the bench we missed a bit of pace to change the game, but I prefer it like this. I will put (in) Vital before I put (in) a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day, so I will not change in that department,” said Amorim.

He added: “It’s always the same reason (why Rashford is not playing).

“The reason is the training, what I think a footballer should do in training, in life and every day. If things don’t change, I will not change.

“It’s the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum and the right things, then we can use every player.”

On the pitch, it was little surprise that it was a moment of fortune rather than inspiration that broke the deadlock.

Martinez took aim from long range but in his desperation to block, Sasa Lukic’s deflection saw the ball fly over goalkeeper Bernd Leno and dip into the top corner.

“I think it was lucky, but an important win,” said Martinez.

“It means a lot. Not only to the fans, but for us because we have suffered a lot.”

Fulham should still have snatched a point at Craven Cottage as United’s frailty during set pieces was exposed.

Joachim Andersen was afforded a free header from a corner but Toby Collyer got back to head off the line.

The visitors could also have extended their advantage deep into stoppage time when Amad Diallo’s strike was ruled out for offside by a video assistant referee review.

Defeat dampens Fulham’s European ambitions as they remain in 10th, seven points off the top six.

Said Fulham manager Marco Silva: “We were better than them and the dominant team...

“A real lucky goal for them gave them the lead, but our reaction was good. We had a good chance from a corner and a clearance on the line.

“We should have taken more from the game and we deserved more from the game.” AFP