Ruben Amorim breaks silence on Man Utd fury after ‘smashing big screen TV in dressing room outburst’
RUBEN AMORIM has broke his silence on smashing a TV screen in anger after Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton.
The manager is alleged to have let out his frustrations at the players when they returned to the dressing room after the final whistle on Sunday.
Amorim tends to stay silent straight after a game and prefers to analyse the performance when he things have settled down.
But the boss instead ripped into his team, with a TV inside the changing room used for showing tactics feeling the full force of his outburst.
He later spoke to the press and claimed he is in charge of the “worst Manchester United team in history“.
Asked about the incident ahead of the Europa League clash against Rangers tomorrow, Amorim said: “I didn’t think, that’s why. I’m a young guy and sometimes I make a mistake.
“That’s why I don’t [usually] speak after the game. This game, I needed to talk and maybe it was a mistake.
“Then I get more nervous and go to the [press] conference really nervous and say things you should not say.
“I don’t promise I will not do it again. I don’t know, but I’ll try to improve.”
Amorim later clarified his comments, adding: “I did not say I was nervous. I said the team was nervous and I was frustrated.
“Frustrated is different from nervous. If you say for the players it is good to see the coach frustrated, maybe not, but I did not say I was nervous.
“We, as a team, it is always, we. I am saying the obvious, if you want I can be delusional and say different things.
“I say it as I saw it and I say to the players. It is a good thing to be honest with you.
“If you want me to say different things – I saw one thing and I tell you a different thing – I can start to do that, it is easier for me.
“I am not nervous, I am frustrated.”
United players and staff were reportedly left shocked by the manager’s fit of rage in the dressing room.
Eagle-eyed fans also spotted a cut on his finger as he spoke to the media after the Brighton defeat.
United’s record at home this season is the club’s worst in the league in 131 years – when they went by the name of Newton Heath.
They have not lost six games at Old Trafford in 12 opening league appearances since the 1893-94 season, when they lost seven.
Amorim’s men are 13th in the Premier League after 22 matches.
They sit closer to the relegation zone (10 points) than they do the top four (12 points).
Man Utd ratings vs Brighton
By Ken Lawrence
ANDRE ONANA was back to his worst as Manchester United fell to another Old Trafford defeat.
It appeared Ruben Amorim’s side had turned a corner in recent weeks with a draw at Anfield and an FA Cup penalty shoot-out win at Arsenal.
But dreadful individual mistakes cost them yet again with Onana the chief culprit.
The keeper dropped a huge clanger as he palmed a simple cross straight to Georginio Rutter under no pressure whatsoever.
There were few positive notes for the Red Devils as Amad once again provided a spark.
Here is how SunSport’s Ken Lawrence rated the United display…
ANDRE ONANA: 2 – No chance with either of the Seagulls’ first two goals. But an awful howler to gift them their third.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT: 5 – Certainly doesn’t look like he likes players running at him as Kaoru Mitoma constantly did. Looked unsure of himself throughout.
HARRY MAGUIRE: 6 – The one member of United’s three-man central defence who looked like he knew what he was doing. Beginning to believe in himself again.
LENY YORO: 5 – The £52m youngster is still settling into the Premier League to be fair to him. But he is certainly taking his time about it.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI: 4 – Has been one of the few consistent successes of Amorim’s tactical revolution. Yet he had a real shocker this time around.
MANUEL UGARTE: 5 – Supposedly “tired” in the 3-1 win over Southampton the midfielder looked brighter here. Yet he still doesn’t look that switched on.
KOBBIE MAINOO: 4 – Where is last season’s Kobbie? Looks nothing like the buzzing homegrown midfielder who burst on the scene last season.
DIOGO DALOT: 5 – Did his duties as a left wing-back to the best of his abilities. Another United player, however, who looked nothing like sharp enough.
AMAD DIALLO: 7 – Thursday night’s 12-minute treble hero on a high again – unlike, again, so many team-mates. Sometimes his footwork is just dazzling.
BRUNO FERNANDES: 6 – Ultra-cool from the spot but that goal didn’t do much to raise his performance level. Had one of those days where nothing really clicked.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE: 5 – “Won” the penalty after being brought down although Carlos Baleba’s challenge would have looked good in a wrestling ring. There’s a footballer in there somewhere…
SUBS
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (for Mainoo 64): 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a team that was being taken apart.
TOBY COLLYER (for Ugarte 64): 5 – Plenty of youthful commitment but still too inexperienced to lift a side as poor as Amorim’s.
ANTONY (for Mazraoui 84): 4 – Talk about a last throw of the dice by Amorim…
RASMUS HOJLUND (for Zirkzee 84): 4 – Given a thankless task in the closing moments of another depressing display.