Amorim says United “need to do better” after late equaliser extends unbeaten run | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester United

Ruben Amorim had mixed feelings on Saturday afternoon after watching his Manchester United snatch a draw deep into stoppage time against Tottenham Hotspur, increasing their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches.

In a similar pattern to last weekend’s draw at Nottingham Forest, United took the lead only to concede twice in a short space of time in the second period, before rallying to equalise. The latest draw in the capital had a slightly different tone, with far more of the game spent 1-0 up and some bad luck contributing to the Spurs turnaround, before a much later salvaging goal.

United arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on their best run of form since Amorim took charge a year ago, having taken 10 points from the last 12. When Bryan Mbeumo put the Red Devils ahead (32’) to maintain his status as their most impressive player this campaign, the visitors looked relatively comfortable.

United reached the final twenty minutes with their narrow one-goal advantage, but suffered a double injury blow which forced off both defender Harry Maguire and experienced midfielder Casemiro. Amorim made a triple substitution, replacing the afflicted duo with Leny Yoro and former Sporting man Manuel Ugarte, while Mason Mount was introduced for Matheus Cunha.

Amorim had given his players every indication he wanted them to push for a second goal with his earlier substitution of defender Noussair Mazraoui for striker Benjamin Sesko, but the injuries further back disrupted United defensively. Spurs took advantage on 82 minutes, as their introduction Mathys Tel produced a smartly-taken equaliser.

Further bad luck was on the way. Amorim switched Patrick Dorgu out for Portugal full-back Diogo Dalot, but soon afterwards Sesko picked up a knock when dispossessed by Micky van Der Ven while through on goal, meaning United had to play ten minutes with ten men. Spurs capitalised in the first minute of injury time – Richarlison diverting the ball past Senne Lammens to send the home fans into raptures.

United looked beaten, but showed good spirit to force their opponents back and earn a corner. Bruno Fernandes’ cross landed dangerously high at the back post, where Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt was on-hand to nod the ball over the line, ensuring United go into the international break undefeated since the last stop.

"People think the results show we're improving, but we have a lot to do" - Amorim

Speaking after the match, Amorim was balanced in his assessment of United, who whilst seeming in control perhaps struggled to create enough to put the game to bed in the second half. However, the Portuguese praised the spirit shown to earn a result from a losing position away from home for the second week running.

“We were in control, especially first half,” Amorim said. “Second half we dropped a little bit, because we felt we were so comfortable in the game and we were thinking let’s see it finish. But we need to do the opposite. We need to feel the environment, that the opposition is nervous and to kill the game, not wait for the end of the game.

“Then in the final ten minutes, we lost Harry, we lost Casemiro, we lost Ben (Sesko) and we suffered two goals. But to manage to score again, to understand that in order to score we put the ball in the final third, trying to win a corner… and we believe in our team to score a goal.

“It was a good point, but my feeling is the three points were there and we need to do more.”

“I think we are building something. I think we are just in the beginning and we need to know that. We have so much to do, but as I said last week, if we can’t win we find a way not to lose and win a point. Again today was really good for that.

“We had a lot of problems. We are just in the beginning. I know that sometimes the results show people that we are improving. We are improving, but we have a lot to do.

“If you look at the rest of the game [before the last ten minutes] we were comfortable in the game. But I think we should do better. Be more aggressive, feeling the environment in the stadium, that the three points were there. The space was there. I think we felt too comfortable.

“We need to expect that in one play anything can happen to change the mood in the stadium. Today was that. We need to do better because the game was there..”