Premier League
Optimism evaporates at Old Trafford as Amorim feels the heat
The cautious optimism that Manchester United took into the new season after marquee summer signings has evaporated even before the end of August and once again manager Ruben Amorim finds himself under an intense spotlight.
One point from their opening two Premier League games means that since taking over from Erik ten Hag, the Portuguese coach has earned 28 points from 29 top-flight matches in charge.
A rather unfortunate 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal followed by a 1-1 draw at Fulham would not ordinarily have put United back into the crisis mode they ended the last miserable campaign.
But on a stormy night in next to the Humber Estuary on Wednesday, defeat by fourth-tier Grimsby Town on penalties in the second round of the League Cup was arguably the lowest point of Amorim’s tenure.
Gone are the days when Manchester United could shrug off the League Cup as a low-key competition to rotate the squad.
With no European football for only the second season in 35 years following last season’s 15th-placed finish, United realistically had the FA Cup and League Cup as viable targets.
So Amorim’s decision to make eight changes to his starting line-up for the clash at Blundell Park was surprising.
That said, he still gave a first start to forward Benjamin Sesko alongside fellow new recruit Matheus Cunha who between them cost United 130 million pounds ($175.6 million) in the transfer window.
With United trailing 2-0 after a diabolical first half, Amorim also sent on 65 million-pound signing Bryan Mbeumo and captain Bruno Fernandes after the break.
Had Cunha not made a complete hash of United’s fifth penalty in the shootout when a successful conversion would have won the tie, Amorim would have been spared Thursday’s inquisition.
ANGST-RIDDEN AMORIM
Instead, Grimsby’s journeymen and youngsters held their nerve, Mbeumo missed his spot kick and the abiding image of the night was an angst-ridden Amorim alone in his dugout, suffering through the shootout.
His post-match comments were laced with intrigue.
“I think this is a little bit the limit. I think something has to change. I think the team and the players spoke really loud today,” he said.
Such was United’s owners enthusiasm to replace Ten Hag with Amorim last year that they gave him a “now or never” ultimatum to jump ship in November rather than at the end of the season.
After a draw in his first game, against Ipswich Town, United were 12th in the table. They ended 15th with 42 points, their lowest ever Premier league haul and worst season since 1974.
Even the consolation of winning the Europa League eluded them as they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the final, a side who finished 17th in the Premier League.
Amorim’s win percentage in all competitions for United is 35.6% and it is a shocking 24.1% in the Premier League.
The much-maligned Ten Hag, who delivered two trophies to the cabinet but was deemed not good enough, won 51% of his Premier league games for the Old Trafford club.
United have the chance to lower the noise levels around their manager when they host Burnley on Saturday.
They have not lost any of their last 23 games against promoted clubs but should that run come to end against Burnley, Amorim would head into the international break in a precarious position.
Reuters
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Manchester United’s familiar struggles have resurfaced following an opening-day defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Manchester United’s new Premier League campaign began in all-too-familiar fashion on Sunday, with a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Arsenal highlighting their status as perpetual strugglers rather than title contenders.
Despite a flurry of new signings and renewed optimism, United found themselves undone by a soft early goal, when goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to deal with a 13th-minute corner.
Arsenal’s William Saliba impeded the Turkish stopper, who flapped weakly at the ball, leaving Riccardo Calafiori to nod home from close range.
The lapse underscored a recurring theme for United: costly mistakes at critical moments.
While Reuben Amorim’s side dominated long stretches of the contest—particularly in the second half—their inefficiency in front of goal betrayed them.
They squandered promising opportunities, while Arsenal keeper David Raya denied Mbeumo with a sharp, diving save.
Arsenal, meanwhile, looked content to lean on their proven strength at set pieces. Calafiori’s strike marked their 31st league goal from a corner since the start of last season—11 more than any other side. Three of their last four goals against United have now arrived in identical fashion.
For United, the defeat reinforces concerns that, despite investment in fresh talent, the team remains adrift from England’s true title race. As the fans filed out of Old Trafford, the familiar refrain lingered: new season, same old United.
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Chelsea survived an early scare when Crystal Palace had an Eberechi Eze goal controversially disallowed in a scrappy 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
Chelsea, whose last competitive outing was winning the Club World Cup in the United States last month, failed to stamp their authority on the game against the FA Cup holders despite more than 70% possession, in warm southwest London sunshine.
Coach Enzo Maresca gave new signings Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion and Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund starts, but neither could make a breakthrough and Chelsea managed only three shots on target out of 19 attempts.
Talisman Cole Palmer looked out-of-sorts and was one of those guilty of wayward shots. The visitors looked to have taken the lead in the 13th minute but referee Darren England consulted the pitchside monitor and ruled Palace captain Marc Guehi, who shoved Moises Caicedo out of the way, was too close to Chelsea’s defensive wall when Eze took a free kick on the edge of the area.
It was a technical ruling, with the laws of the game stating that where three or more defending team players form a wall, the attackers must be at least one metre from that wall and England spent some time explaining his decision to Guehi.
Chelsea, who finished fourth last season and also won the Conference League, have been tipped to do better this season after strengthening their attacking lineup.
Liam Delap who signed from Ipswich Town and 18-year-old Estevao came on as substitutes midway through the second half and it was the young Brazilian who made the most impact, with a lively performance down the right wing.
Eze, who has been linked with a move from south to north London after interest from Tottenham Hotspur, applauded the away fans as they sang his name at the end of the game.
-Reuters
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The new Premier League season has kicked off and this Sunday will see Arsenal traveling to familiar rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
This fixture remains one of English football’s classic rivalries, with a rich history and titanic clashes over decades.
This fixture isn’t just any season opener. United, under Ruben Amorim, aim to leap out of the shadow of a dismal 15th-place finish last season.
Managerial change and hefty summer reinforcements have set the tone for a campaign of redemption
Meanwhile, Arsenal, still stinging from three straight runner-up finishes, are back yet again as title contenders.
Mikel Arteta has underlined the urgency of converting consistency into silverware this time around.
Recent form favours Arsenal away at Old Trafford. Notably, Arsenal have scored in each of their last 11 league visits, and Manchester United have only beaten Arsenal twice at home in the past 18 league meetings.
Arteta is candid about Arsenal’s title hunger: “We are the team that has scored the most points over the last three seasons … but we still need to win a major title”, ESPN quoted him as saying.
Amorim, stepping in midway last season, carries high expectations to reverse United’s fortunes after a troubled campaign.
The Sunday blockbuster sets the tone for both teams. Arsenal head to Old Trafford with momentum, defensive solidity, and fresh attacking options. United, with a imagined frontline and home advantage, hope to catch the visitors cold early.
Expect a tightly contested affair—potentially decided by fine margins and tactical adaptations. Should Gyokeres live up to the hype and Arsenal wield their cohesion, they could edge a statement-opening win.
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