It was necessary to have a positive result in the 50th match leading Manchester United to ease the pressure, everything went according to Ruben Amorim's wishes.
Amorim's adjustments have worked. Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko both scored, while Sunderland missed a series of opportunities, helping Man United win 2-0. The away team was even denied a penalty by VAR.
"We didn't play really well throughout the match, but there were some memorable moments. However, if you look at the overall performance, you will see that it was a team that focused, defended solidly and knew how to finish the match in the second half" - Amorim said.
Before the match, Amorim defended his tactical system after criticism from two former players Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney. He controlled all temptations to change his approach against Sunderland, but made a bold decision when changing the goalkeeper.
Senne Lammens made his first appearance in the starting lineup after moving from Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million on the last day of the transfer window, replacing Altay Bayindir. This is the decision that many Man United fans have been waiting for for for many weeks.
As soon as Lammens made his first save - turning left to push Granit Xhaka's shot out of the post - he received a resounding cheer from the stands. The 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper even made fans more excited when he caught a cross right before the end of the first half.
At that time, the "Red Devils" took the lead. Mason Mount - who was brought back to the starting lineup by Amorim - opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a delicate touch and finish. Sesko doubled the gap in the first half, scoring the second goal in two consecutive matches.
Sunderland contributed significantly to the perfect half of Amorim and his students. Bertrand Traore missed the opportunity to finish in the top ten after only 4 minutes, while Dan Ballard almost scored with a dangerous header.
Meanwhile, referee Stuart Attwell seemed to award Sunderland a penalty after Sesko kicked high. However, the decision was quickly overturned after VAR determined that Trai Hume's face was almost un affected.
With an impressive performance in his debut match, perhaps Lammens will be able to block if that penalty is taken. In the final minutes, he successfully blocked Chemsdine Talbi's shot and then neutralized a cross, helping Man United keep a clean sheet for the first time this season.
"He looked very confident in his debut match. The important thing is that Senne's teammates helped him have a good performance. We are all focused, make few mistakes, and we play together as a team.
He needs time to adapt to the new country, the new coaching program, and the great pressure that you put on the goalkeeper. Now he has only had one game, still needs to work harder and prepare mentally that at this club, everything is always very harsh" - Amorim shared.
There is still support for Amorim, but he will need more days like this to fully restore confidence. Those who have called for his departure will argue that the win over Sunderland - the newly promoted side - is not a convincing measure.
In fact, 5 of Amorim's last 10 Premier League victories have come against the league's new recruits. Last season, Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton, while this season, Burnley and Sunderland.
"Our team does not lack motivation to compete. We understand what comes after each win. Disappointingly, they have not seen the same performance at home and away.
We didn't play well in the second half, but the whole team was still focused and fought hard to win the second half. It was these small details that helped us win," the Portuguese captain added.
