Ruben Amorim calls for Manchester United to keep up their sense of urgency

LONDON – Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said his side must match the level of urgency they showed in their 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Sept 20 if they are to keep on winning.

Having won just once this season going into the game, the pressure was on the Portuguese ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Old Trafford in the English Premier League.

Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s dismissal after just five minutes gave the Red Devils the platform to earn a vital win with goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, but the performance, from the off, reached levels of intensity that had been lacking recently.

“Sometimes we have some moments that we feel an urgency to have a result,” Amorim said. “Today we won. It’s nice to win, but let’s not forget that return to that urgency in our game.

“We need to win the next game. That is the most important thing. In this big club it’s not a feeling that today is a really good game, so let’s relax a little bit. Let’s keep that urgency. That is the most important feeling we have to take for the next week.”

In true United fashion, the hosts still made things difficult for themselves from a seemingly unassailable position, 2-0 in front with a numerical advantage in the driving Manchester rain.

Casemiro’s sending-off late in the first half gave the visitors a lifeline, with Trevoh Chalobah’s header ensuring a nervy finish at an expectant Old Trafford.

“We showed that when everything is going well, we arrange something to make it difficult,” Amorim added. “But we suffered together in the end. That was a good thing. If you look at the game, we deserved to win.

“We were trying to do things a little bit too much, making a tackle that maybe we shouldn’t. It’s hard to say, because that is the pressure. Maybe it’s because Casemiro cares. Sometimes it’s not the pressure, they wanted too much in that moment.”

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was left frustrated after his game plan was ruined by Sanchez’s red card.

Asked if he would have preferred his goalkeeper to have let Bryan Mbeumo through to score rather than foul him, the Italian said: “Yeah, probably it is the best solution because we are still 95 minutes to play.

“I think even Robert is aware of that. But also it’s difficult because he has to take a decision in one second, two seconds. So it’s difficult. But, for sure, if you ask me, I prefer to be 1-0 down after three minutes than one player down.” REUTERS, AFP