The nature of "one step forward, one step back" of Manchester United under Ruben Amorim made the Portuguese coach exclaim a few weeks ago: "This club has no motivation at all".
However, after defeating Brighton, Sunderland and Liverpool in turn, Amorim can finally smile. two goals by Bryan Mbeumo and goals by Matheus Cunha and Casemiro brought a 4-2 victory, helping Man United increase their winning streak to 3 consecutive matches.
However, things are still not easy for the "Red Devils". Amorim had to go through stressful moments when Brighton rose strongly from a 0-3 lead to reduce the gap to 2-3. It was not until Mbeumo scored the second goal that Man United really breathed a sigh of relief. This is also the first time since February 2024 that the Old Trafford team has won 3 consecutive victories in the Premier League.
"Both the result and our performance are very important. Man United have to know different ways of playing at different times. We had some difficulties at the end of the match, but I think the team deserved to win against a very, very strong opponent" - said the Portuguese captain.
Amorim's coaching reputation has been hit hard by a shaky start, but he is gradually finding his place. After accurate calculations in the win over Liverpool at Anfield, Amorim continued to show his tactical mark in the match against Brighton.
With opponent's strikers Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck regularly dropping deep to support the midfield, Amorim immediately asked defenders Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt to stick close to put pressure. This adventurous attacking style of play sometimes leaves space for opponents to exploit, but the effectiveness it brings is undeniable.
"It was part of the plan. With us Harry Maguire, the team can defend better in the box and take a little further back. But with players who can press at high levels like Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw, we can raise the squad and put more pressure on," Amorim added.
This is a victory for Amorim's tactical thinking, and at the same time an achievement for the vision of CEO Omar Berrada, Director of Football Jason Wilcox and the scouting team of Man United. Last season, the scarcity of goals was a big problem, and Man United made a big recovery in the summer by signing Cunha, Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
Cunha stood out in the win at Anfield, and against Brighton, he was rewarded with his first goal for Man United. It was an accurate finish that showed confidence and goal-scoring instinct. This is also the kind of half-hearted opportunities that Man United often missed last season, but now, they know how to turn them into advantages.
When asked about the biggest difference between Amorim's current squad and the defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford in January, coach Fabian Hurzeler praised the way Man United pressed and especially emphasized the impact of the new recruits.
"Man United pressed very well in the first half. They are much more breakthrough, much more compact. Individual quality is also clearly higher. So the money they spend is completely worth it," said the Brighton captain.
Matches like this are the type of challenge that Man United have often struggled with since Amorim took charge. Previously, in addition to defeating newly promoted teams and some clubs in the Big Six, Amorim's Man United only overcame Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa.
Now, Brighton have been added to that list and for Amorim, this victory brings a very different feeling of satisfaction, even more special than the shocking victory at Anfield.
