Ruben Amorim says Man United have no excuses against Everton despite tight turnaround
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Ruben Amorim will make his Premier League home debut as Manchester United manager when his side host Everton on Dec 1.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
LONDON – While Manchester United have little time to prepare for Ruben Amorim’s first English Premier League game at Old Trafford, the new manager insisted there will be “no excuses” if his team do not beat Everton on Dec 1.
While their opponents have had a full week to prepare since their 0-0 draw with Brentford on Nov 23, United were in action in midweek in a breathless 3-2 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt, their second game in five days.
“It is what it is,” Amorim said of the challenging schedule.
“We will rotate players and we will be ready. Against Bodo/Glimt, we have to use four subs to manage the fitness, not the game. We manage the fitness. We already know that it will be like that, so no excuse. We should be ready for Sunday and we have to win.”
The Red Devils drew 1-1 at Ipswich Town on Amorim’s debut with the club on Nov 24, and they will next face another team battling relegation in Sean Dyche’s Everton.
Asked what he expects against the Toffees, the 39-year-old added: “Win. I am hoping to win. It is going to be a different match with a lot of fighting, long balls, second balls.
“They have a quality coach, who understands the league. We need to have the ball. I hope for a win and see different things in my team, improve like we did from Ipswich to now, with Everton, without training.
“I expect to see different things and better things.”
The Portuguese was known for maintaining high fitness standards in his previous job at Sporting Lisbon, and said he would like to see United fitter. At the same time, he acknowledged his mid-season arrival makes for a more difficult challenge.
However, one player who has impressed Amorim so far is his compatriot Diogo Dalot.
“He is a great player,” he said in singling out the defender.
“He can play both sides, which is perfect.”
Amorim also said that he “believes a lot” in Mason Mount, and that the former Chelsea midfielder is desperate to succeed at United after an injury-blighted career at Old Trafford so far.
Mount joined United in July 2023 but has played just 28 times for the club, scoring a solitary goal.
On Nov 28, the England international made his first start since August, playing nearly an hour against Bodo/Glimt.
“First thing is he is working really hard. And then you have to understand the human also,” Amorim said of the 25-year-old Mount.
“He wants this really badly and that is the most important thing. I think he has proven to all of you that he is a talented player. He was a European champion (with Chelsea), so we believe a lot in him.
“He has to stay fit. Like all the guys in the team, they are quality players, they have to improve, believe in themselves. I especially believe a lot in Mason Mount.”
Leny Yoro, who has yet to make his competitive debut for United after fracturing his foot in pre-season, has resumed training and there is hope the 19-year-old can play before the end of the year.
Dyche, meanwhile, is wary of the “new manager bounce” and is hoping to spoil Amorim’s Premier League home debut.
“Everyone talks of a ‘new manager bounce’ so it’s more difficult in that way of thinking, but they’ve still got good players regardless,” he said.
“A new manager to the Premier League will maybe give a different feel to it. I’m sure he’s been working with the players and trying to get his thoughts across.
“Everything’s tough in the Premier League. We’ve shown before that we can take these teams on and that’s what we’ve got to do again.” REUTERS, AFP
