Ruben Amorim often mentioned the word endurance in his press conferences. For him, the team not only "gained a goal" but also had to " endure the loss". Since taking charge in November, the Portuguese coach has not hesitated to share that players need to learn to endure to adapt to the complex tactical system he has built.
In the world of football, the concept of endurance is not a strange thing. Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone once affirmed that "endurance is necessary" to successfully defend.
However, most coaches only mention this factor when the season peaks in April or May. Ruben Amorim has chosen another approach as he believes that if Man United want to regain their top position in England, they need to be ready to endure right from the harsh winter period.
The thrilling win over Arsenal in the FA Cup was a clear testament to the fighting spirit Amorim wanted to convey. Despite having to play with 10 men for most of the second half, The Red Devils still maintained discipline and resilience to force the match into penalty shootouts.
From Altay Bayindir's excellent save from Martin Odegaard's penalty kick to the relentless performances of defenders like Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte, the determination has helped the team overcome the challenge.
Notably, Matthijs de Ligt had his best performance since moving to Old Trafford. Despite facing many difficulties when playing in the 3-man defense at Bayern Munich and the national team, the 25-year-old star is showing positive signs in Amorim's system.
In particular, De Ligt's decisive save in the second half was his biggest highlight in the last match. The impact of the Dutch midfielder not only prevented Arsenal from scoring but also showed the will to not give up that Amorim wanted in his students.
At that time, De Ligt showed signs of rising to the offside trap, but Jorginho's breakthrough pass created an opportunity for Havertz to escape. The German midfielder crossed towards Trossard, the ball went past Maguire and Bayindir.
It was thought that Arsenal had defeated Man United's defense, but De Ligt did not give up. Instead, the 1999-born centre-back doubled his efforts to regain the ball, not only approaching Declan Rice from the far post but also approaching Trossard as he approached the 5m50 area. De Ligt narrowly passed the Belgian striker to make an important save.
Some things are not about technique or tactics, but about spirit and competition. We deserved to win even though they had more chances. That is the fighting spirit and endurance that helped us overcome difficult times" - Ruben Amorim shared.
With the victory over Arsenal, Man United have advanced to the next round of the FA Cup, where they will face Leicester City. Previously, the Premier League match against Southampton in midweek will be a test for the "Red Devils" to stabilize their form. Amorim's team needs to prove their fighting spirit not only against big opponents like Man City, Liverpool or Arsenal but also against smaller teams.
Ruben Amorim understands that the journey to bring Man United back to the top will not be easy. He is building a team that can not only withstand pressure but also know how to turn difficult moments into opportunities.
In the match against Arsenal, Amorim used Toby Collyer, a young player from the academy, to replace Kobbie Mainoo. This decision shows that he is ready to put his faith in the new generation, who are willing to run non-stop and contribute to the overall play.
Lisandro Martinez, despite being injured at the end of the extra period, stayed on the pitch and played as a centre forward in the final minutes. The Argentine star even successfully executed his shot in penalty shootouts, demonstrating the sacrifice and team spirit that Amorim wanted to spread in the dressing room.
