Ruben Amorim ‘just wants to win’ as he prepares for Man United home debut
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will make his Old Trafford debut when his side host Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LONDON – Ruben Amorim will make his Old Trafford debut as Manchester United manager when the Red Devils host Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Nov 28, and he is clear what he is aiming for.
The Portuguese coach’s tenure began on Nov 24 in slightly underwhelming fashion, when United drew 1-1 away at newly promoted Ipswich Town
Amorim admitted that his team will have to suffer for some time before they can get better.
Speaking on Nov 27 before the Bodo/Glimt match, he said: “It will be a special time. I just want to win the game. Before the match it will be like a new sensation. After the whistle, it will just be another game.
“We have a lot of games and we are in the beginning of something. We will try to win every game, not just focus on this game and have a clear of idea of how to play.
“I am expecting a tough game. They run a lot and we need to improve that. They have some special players in the wings... so I am expecting a very, very intense game and a good game.”
A struggling United side had to wait until their fourth Europa League game to get their first win, beating Greek side Paok 2-0 earlier in November under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.
That victory moved them up to 15th, on track for a top-eight finish for the knockout phase.
Despite their issues, it would be a huge shock if they fail to beat Bodo/Glimt at home.
Amorim, however, has a defensive problem at centre-back. Lisandro Martinez may not be risked although he is “ready”, while Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof are injured.
This means that Noussair Mazraoui and Jonny Evans could yet again play in a back three alongside Matthijs de Ligt.
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte started on the bench against Ipswich and it remains to be seen if they would feature, with a Dec 1 Premier League match against Everton in mind.
Amorim also vowed to help struggling striker Marcus Rashford rediscover the form that resulted in him scoring 30 goals across all competitions in the 2022-23 season, but said the 27-year-old has to want it first.
Tottenham Hotspur will host Italian side Roma on Nov 28 on the back of their morale-boosting 4-0 win over Manchester City.
Manager Ange Postecoglou praised Guglielmo Vicario for playing with a broken ankle before he had surgery but said on Nov 27 that he had full faith in backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster stepping up
In the Conference League, Chelsea travel to German side FC Heidenheim.
Blues coach Enzo Maresca may have wanted to sign a new striker in August, but Nicolas Jackson’s blistering start to his second season in the Premier League suggests the solution is at Stamford Bridge.
The Senegal international scored 14 goals in 35 league appearances last season, but the 23-year-old conceded he was wasteful in his debut year in England. His form this term has highlighted his potential to become one of Europe’s most lethal scorers. He is averaging a goal or an assist in almost every game.
Together with playmaker Cole Palmer, Jackson has topped the club’s scoring charts with seven league goals this season and his form in difficult away games has helped Chelsea move up to third in the standings.
With five goals on the road, no Premier League player has scored more away than Jackson this campaign.
“For me, he is doing very well,” Maresca said after Jackson netted in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Leicester City on Nov 23. “He is working hard on the ball and off the ball. He is making an effort to understand the way we want to play.
“We are sure he is going to get better game after game.” REUTERS
