This was an exercise in how not to utilise the first of only two matches to tune up before a major European final from Manchester United that left Ruben Amorim so disenchanted he spoke of not being in charge if the start to next season is the same.
The head coach said: “I’m talking about myself, I’m talking about the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to be really strong in the summer and be brave. We will not have a next season like this if we start like this. If the feeling is still here we should give space [his position] to different persons.”
Amorim’s side was patternless and pathetic and has only the trip to Chelsea on Friday to erase the memory before jetting into Bilbao to face Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday week.
The Portuguese identified an attitude defect. “It’s mentally. We are not scared of losing a game as Manchester United. We don’t have that fear any more and that is the most dangerous thing that a big club can have.
“There’s a lack of urgency when we’re defending our box. We need to be more aggressive and need to feel that it is the end of the world when we are not winning a game.”
United have now lost 17 Premier League matches, 13 of which under Amorim. When Tomas Soucek’s 26th‑minute back-heel beat Altay Bayindir, United sunk to 17th in the table, an inarguable barometer of how they have fallen under the 40-year-old. By the interval they were up a berth as Tottenham trailed Crystal Palace, where they stayed, and so continental club football’s second-tier tourney at the San Mames Stadium will pit foes occupying, to their blushes, the first two places above the drop zone.
Again, Amorim was damning, questioning whether United should even compete next term in the Champions League – the prize for claiming the Europa League. “Everybody is focused on the final. The final is not the biggest thing in our football club. We need to change a lot of things. If we don’t change the way we play and perform and feel this urgency of winning every game, we should not play in the Champions League.
“We should just stay in the Premier League and learn how to be competitive one week at a time. Playing in the Premier League and Champions League for us is the moon.
“I’m not concerned about [performance in] the final – they will be focused and I don’t know what is best, if it’s playing in the Champions League or not. So let’s think about Chelsea [on Friday] to improve a lot of things.”
In blazing sun, both sets of players flitted about at half-speed, swapping possession as if in the warm-up. When the pace was increased a fraction, gaps opened, as when Bruno Fernandes twice blasted over for United, a Maximilian Kilman header missed at the other end, and Diallo illustrated his quality.
After teasing the ball at Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the right wing‑back swooped inside and, with his stronger left, let fly: as the crowd “oohed” Alphonse Areola, West Ham’s goalkeeper, saved.
With the Europa League showpiece ahead, Amorim shuffled his pack and, though Bayindir’s inclusion for André Onana in goal was most noteworthy, the stand-in could do zero to prevent the opener.
Down the left, Wan-Bissaka found Mohammed Kudos, he fizzed the ball across, and Soucek fashioned a back‑flick that deflected off Harry Amass, and United had conceded the opener in 22 of their 36 Premier gamedays, including 11 of the last 16.
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For West Ham, showing three changes, this was a fine opening salvo in the bid to end an eight-game run with no victory. United, donning a one-off shirt showing the logo of health injustice charity (Red) to raise awareness, were, simply, amateurish.
At a next Hammers foray, Bayindir rushed forward to fend off a delivery but Noussair Mazraoui stepped across him to blast away for a corner. Then, twice, Højlund showed why he draws the ire of a sizable constituency of United enthusiasts.
A swivel and unload ended with the ball in the heavens and the No 9 pratfallen. Next, running on to a clever Manuel Ugarte chip from midfield, Højlund’s right-booted volley was as powder-puff as United’s league endeavours.
The plot worsened for United when Leny Yoro limped off. “We have to assess Leny tomorrow,” Amorim said. “It could be a small thing.”
The Hammers second came when Ugarte was pickpocketed and did not chase back – a prime example of the lack of “urgency” – the ball ended up left and Wan-Bissaka’s roll to Jarrod Bowen was as smooth as the captain’s finish.
“Very pleasing,” was Graham Potter’s verdict. How Amorim wishes his counterpart’s emotion could be his.
Source: theguardian.com
