Newcastle moved up to fifth with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford as Ruben Amorim’s side lost their fourth consecutive game.
Alexander Isak and Joelinton led the Magpies from the start of coming out of the house look in disarray, with Amorim replacing Joshua Zirkzee in the first half to mock his own supporters.
It could have been more for Newcastle, Isak having a goal ruled out for offside and Sandro Tonali striking a post. There was something of a response in the second half with Harry Maguire heading against the post, but it was a deserved win for Eddie Howe’s team.
Manchester United has now lost five of its last six Premier League games and 4 games in a row in all competitions, and the last 3 even scoring. They remain 14 on the table, now only seven problems above the fall. Newcastle goes up to the fifth.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim speaking to Sky Sports:
“It’s obvious [United are being dragged into a relegation battle] so we have to fight. It’s a difficult time, one of the most difficult times in Manchester United’s history and we have to face it honestly.
“We’ve got to do it in the next game. “
Asked whether he will change his system…
“Maybe, or you continue with your idea and they have to change the coach. It is a choice that everyone has to make in football. If I think this is the best thing for the team, I will continue to pass my message, easily.
“You cannot go back. We’ve only had four training sessions all together. I will continue to do my idea until the end.”
When asked about Joshua Zirkzee’s first-half upgrade. . .
“You have to think about the team but also about the player, but the player is suffering. I have an idea that the team was suffering and we needed another midfielder to have more of the ball. It was hard for me to do that, but I spoke up. About that. Josh because the message was vital, explicit.
“I know Josh is a really smart guy. When he went into the tunnel, I can sense that some guys may be in a bad situation, but he’s a really smart guy. That’s life, and we’re going to go with Josh and move forward. ” “Newcastle was bigger than Manchester United, but not bigger than Josh. “
Jamie Carragher talking about Alexander Isak on Monday Night Football:
“When he’s in position, sometimes with strikers, they can be a little bit sloppy or a little bit loose in possession. When you see him, he’s on the move, he’s moving with the ball, he’s not just standing in the box, waiting for the ball.
“You can play as a goal, you can score goals, you can run backwards, I think you can almost play as number 10, you probably almost play with some other striker because you have the ability to play. ” Let yourself fall and pick up the ball.
“It was just a sensation, and there were many important signings, we deserve to say under Eddie Howe. It is the most productive attacker of the Premier League at this time. I don’t think it’s close, I think it’s like that. The genuine eliminated. “
“With bad results, it’s difficult to sell a concept,” Amorim told Sky Sports before the match. “I was hired for this concept and in those difficult times, if you replace your mind, this is the end for any coach. “But sticking to this concept also poses problems.
Manchester United a disaster from the beginning against Newcastle. Part of the players exceeded confidence. Zirkzee’s sad vision leaving the area before the break is emblematic of an organization of players who seem dissatisfied with his work.
But a formula intends to make your task easier, not more difficult, and whatever your opinion on the quality of Amorim inherited team, it is difficult to argue that it is rarely a component at least at least of the problem. Too many of them seem uncomfortable in their role.
Diogo Dalot was stationed so high up the pitch for much of the game that it would have been more natural to have a left winger there rather than an erstwhile right-back. When he did get the ball he could only shovel it inside rather than provide any genuine width.
Noussair Mazraoui is not doing much better on the other flank and Matthijs de Ligt does not need to be dragged into large spaces as he runs past Alexander Isak. Lisandro Martínez is one of the few who wears this figure and endured a depressing night dressed in red.
Amorim would no doubt have preferred to have come into this job last summer or next rather than be plunged into a congested fixture list and asked to fix problems on the fly. But the hope would have been that he could muddle through and build for next season.
That remains the hope, but he wants United to bounce back or threaten to start this rebuild on the wrong foot as he is doubtful even before his first full season in charge. As he himself admits, there is a concept of selling: to the players, to the public and to his bosses.
Amorim does not want a trophy. A season outside Europe can even make things easier. There are no expectations of shooting from United. But a third consecutive Premier League defeat without even scoring a goal is unacceptable, even at this low level.