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The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
New season, same strife between the sticks for Manchester United
New seasons are never new starts, not entirely. The sun may have been shining and the temperature in the mid-twenties. There may have been new kits on the pitch and new flags in the stands. There may have been an obsessive focus on the new signings. There may, among home fans, perhaps especially those refreshed in the new marquee behind the Stretford End, have been a giddy expectation that this season couldn't be as bad as last for Manchester United. But the roots of a game run deep, stretching back into the mulch of the past. This was a game shaped by events last December. Arsenal are good at set-pieces; United are vulnerable to inswinging deliveries. In December last year Arsenal beat United 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, both goals the result of corners. United had André Onana in goal for that one, but Tottenham had taken notice of the susceptibility to balls arced into the goalmouth, the way United struggled to protect their keeper. Two weeks later, Spurs played United in the Carabao Cup. Altay Bayindir was in goal for that one and suffered the indignity of being beaten direct from a corner by Son Heung-min. United don't like inswingers and Bayindir really doesn't like inswingers. Declan Rice is good at taking inswingers. And so there was a certain inevitability to what happened after 13 minutes. United had looked vaguely threatening. Arsenal had been rattled enough to commit four fouls in that period. Then Arsenal won a corner from their left. Rice whipped it in, Bayindir flapped and would have scored an own-goal had Ricardo Calafiori not nodded the ball in the line from the goal-line. United, perhaps, could point to the way William Saliba, having grappled with Mason Mount, bumped into him just as the ball arrived, and perhaps, given the new directives to referees to crack down on holding, a foul could have been given. But then there were half a dozen incidents that could have been penalised one way or the other in the box from that one corner; any refereeing decision in such circumstances could not but feel arbitrary. Fundamentally, with more decisive goalkeeping there wouldn't have been an issue. David Raya's assertive punch to clear an inswinging free-kick from Bruno Fernandes early in the second half, cuffing Matthijs de Ligt out of the way, showed the way to do it. Maybe the analogy was never entirely apt. Maybe building from the foundations up doesn't necessarily mean getting the defence right. Maybe as football increasingly becomes about content production there is some sort of commercial logic in prioritising the goalscorers and the creators, the players who will look good clipped up, or, to continue the metaphor, the spire, the ornamentation on the roof. But on the other hand, it doesn't much matter if you've spent £200m on forwards if you're going to concede goals like that. Particularly if you don't then actually score yourself. There were positive signs from both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha but the most incisive United player, yet again, was Amad Diallo, who came off the bench to play at right wing-back ten minutes into the second half. United, perhaps, would consider themselves unfortunate. Patrick Dorgu hit the post and Raya had to make seven saves, more than any other goalkeeper on the opening weekend. But only his reflex stop down to his left to keep out a Cunha effort from a narrow angle was a save that he would not necessarily be expected to make. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion To point out that United drew this fixture last season and that they're therefore doing worse this season is on one level meaningless. But equally this is a manager whose win percentage is at 37.2%, the worst in half a century – and if United fail to win at Fulham next week, he will drop below both Frank O'Farrell and Wilf McGuinness to have the worst win percentage of any United manager since Herbert Bamlett, who was sacked in 1931. Context matters. There was plenty of mitigation on Sunday afternoon. The closer you zoom in the more excuses can be found: a goalkeeping error, new players settling in, a couple of close-run things. But it won't take many more bad results for faith in Amorim to wane. When form has been so bad, it's only natural to catastrophise: if they don't win at Craven Cottage, the next home match, against newly promoted Burnley, takes on a ghastly aspect: not merely a game they should win, but a game they have to. This season is not discrete from last. New signings, a resetting of the table, new hope, cannot erase the footfalls that echo in the memory. Poor results are a problem not only in themselves but for the impact they have on games to come: time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Calafiori pounces on Bayindir error as Arsenal grind to win at Manchester United
Premier League: Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1 (Calafiori 13) Blazing sunshine and a busy new marquee serving craft ale behind the Stretford End: Manchester United began in a shiny new world and finished in the gloom of another defeat. First look at Altay Bayindir's howler that handed Riccardo Calafiori an easy header. But then zoom out and you see this: a crisis at No 1 for United that features Ruben Amorim going all summer not fancying André Onana and still turning up for the season opener without a replacement. Result: dropping the Cameroonian completely. Arsenal failed to fire throughout – Viktor Gyökeres's 60-minute debut was a non-event – but they didn't need to with United so dismal at both ends. Towards the close Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo tripped over Arsenal players in a hectic scramble to cancel out Calafiori's strike: a snapshot of United's chronic toothlessness. Moments later, a better Mbeumo headed effort drew a good save from David Raya. There were further goalmouth scrambles but no United player could stick the ball in the net. READ MORE In a middling contest, Amorim's team had to do what the visiting left-back did – with this 13th-minute goal a disaster for United and a joy for him. Declan Rice arrowed a corner in from the left, a clownish Bayindir merely palmed the ball on, and Calafiori nodded home a ball already heading in. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard challenges Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Photograph:'One-nil to the Arsenal' came the ecstatic taunt from the faithful. United complained that Bayindir was caught in a melee but we witnessed the questionable summer transfer strategy of spending £200 million-plus and not recruiting a top-rated No 1. Just as suspect was the XI sent out that could be marked 'curio' with Amorim preferring Casemiro to Manuel Ugarte in midfield, and Mason Mount was the nominal No 9 (no squad place for Rasmus Højlund), though Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha started. The new boys began fast – Mbeumo barged over Martín Zubimendi (also on debut), Cunha ran in, howled for his twin-10 to pass, he did, but Arsenal escaped. Mikel Arteta , who issued a trademark moan at Mbeumo's challenge, had to watch as Mbeumo again motored along his right corridor but the shot was a pea-roller into Raya's hands. At this juncture, United were fast and furious, even when defending. From a Bruno Fernandes corner Arsenal broke and Mount hared back to help out. Then, after Calafiori's winner, United were back in counterattack mode. A proposition of serial moments but none of the patterns Amorim (surely) craves. Patrick Dorgu hit a post. The live wire Cunha wriggled in a left zone and turned and forced a Raya reflex save. Zubimendi's foul on Fernandes had the latter hitting the wall to the right of the area. A scintillating Cunha run took him from halfway through a thicket of opponents and clear in but the effort was scuffed. Mbeumo's cute lay-off was followed by a 25-yard Cunha hit straight at Raya. Manchester United's Matheus Cunha (right) dejected as Arsenal's Gabriel celebrates after the final whistle. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Yet without Bayindir's howler Arteta would have had the harder half-time chat as his team was no smooth unit, tapping the ball about, manoeuvring those in red about like Subbuteo pieces. Rice and Zubimendi exerted scant control in central areas and Gyökeres laboured and suffered from his team-mates' creation-deficit. United, brighter in this department, saw Mount fluff their latest attempt, so Amorim had to do something – be patient (in hope) or make a change. He chose the latter. Amad (another surprising exclusion) entered for the average Diogo Dalot and the Ivorian impressed – one more Amorim team selection puzzler. Benjamin Sesko, continually warming up, watched on as Fernandes flipped in a dead-ball from the left corner flag and Raya rose and punched away – as Bayindir fatally failed to. To boos Gyökeres was hooked on the hour for Kai Havertz. The derision came from spurned suitors after the Swede chose north London not south Manchester. But jeers became cheers as Sesko was given a 25-minute debut – for the anonymous Mount. Ugarte, too, was introduced, for Casemiro. Immediately, a tangle with Noni Maduke, another visiting substitute, was the midfield bite United lacked. Amorim's men were lacking all over the park. A tight win for Arsenal. One more chastening day for the Portuguese's project. – Guardian
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Calafiori strikes after goalkeeper's error as Arsenal grind to win at Manchester United
Blazing sunshine and a busy new marquee serving craft ale behind the Stretford End: Manchester United began in a shiny new world and finished in the gloom of another defeat. First look at Altay Bayindir's howler that handed Riccardo Calafiori an easy header. But then zoom out and you see this: a crisis at No 1 for United that features Ruben Amorim going all summer not fancying André Onana and still turning up for the season opener without a replacement. Result: dropping the Cameroonian completely. Arsenal failed to fire throughout – Viktor Gyökeres's 60-minute debut was a non-event – but they didn't need to with United so dismal at both ends. Towards the close Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo tripped over Arsenal players in a hectic scramble to cancel out Calafiori's strike: a snapshot of United's chronic toothlessness. Moments later, a better Mbeumo headed effort drew a good save from David Raya. There were further goalmouth scrambles but no United player could stick the ball in the net. In a middling contest, Amorim's team had to do what the visiting left-back did – with this 13th-minute goal a disaster for United and a joy for him. Declan Rice arrowed a corner in from the left, a clownish Bayindir merely palmed the ball on, and Calafiori nodded home a ball already heading in. 'One-nil to the Arsenal' came the ecstatic taunt from the faithful. United complained that Bayindir was caught in a melee but we witnessed the questionable summer transfer strategy of spending £200m-plus and not recruiting a top-rated No 1. Just as suspect was the XI sent out that could be marked 'curio' with Amorim preferring Casemiro to Manuel Ugarte in midfield, and Mason Mount was the nominal No 9 (no squad place for Rasmus Højlund), though Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha started. The new boys began fast – Mbeumo barged over Martín Zubimendi (also on debut), Cunha ran in, howled for his twin-10 to pass, he did, but Arsenal escaped. Mikel Arteta, who issued a trademark moan at Mbeumo's challenge, had to watch as Mbeumo again motored along his right corridor but the shot was a pea-roller into Raya's hands. At this juncture, United were fast and furious, even when defending. From a Bruno Fernandes corner Arsenal broke and Mount hared back to help out. Then, after Calafiori's winner, United were back in counterattack mode. A proposition of serial moments but none of the patterns Amorim (surely) craves. Patrick Dorgu hit a post. The livewire Cunha wriggled in a left zone and turned and forced a Raya reflex save. Zubimendi's foul on Fernandes had the latter hitting the wall to the right of the area. A scintillating Cunha run took him from halfway through a thicket of opponents and clear in but the effort was scuffed. Mbeumo's cute layoff was followed by a 25-yard Cunha hit straight at Raya. Yet without Bayindir's howler Arteta would have had the harder half-time chat as his team was no smooth unit, tapping the ball about, manoeuvring those in red about like Subbuteo pieces. Rice and Zubimendi exerted scant control in central areas and Gyökeres laboured and suffered from his teammates' creation-deficit. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion United, brighter in this department, saw Mount fluff their latest attempt, so Amorim had to do something – be patient (in hope) or make a change. He chose the latter. Amad (another surprising exclusion) entered for the average Diogo Dalot and the Ivorian impressed – one more Amorim team selection puzzler. Benjamin Sesko, continually warming up, watched on as Fernandes flipped in a dead-ball from the left corner flag and Raya rose and punched away – as Bayindir fatally failed to. To boos Gyökeres was hooked on the hour for Kai Havertz. The derision came from spurned suitors after the Swede chose north London not south Manchester. But jeers became cheers as Sesko was given a 25-minute debut – for the anonymous Mount. Ugarte, too, was introduced, for Casemiro. Immediately, a tangle with Noni Maduke, another visiting substitute, was the midfield bite United lacked. Amorim's men were lacking all over the park. A tight win for Arsenal. One more chastening day for the Portuguese's project.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Amorim delivers apology as Man Utd fans told good days are coming
In the aftermath of Manchester United's 2024-25 campaign, Ruben Amorim stepped onto the Old Trafford turf not to rally, but to repent. The final act of the season — a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa that bore all the consequence of a damp postscript — was followed by the kind of oration more suited to Sunday service than Sunday football. 'First of all I want to apologise for this season, we know you are really disappointed with the team,' said Amorim, microphone in hand, addressing the stadium with the solemnity of a man who has not merely lost games, but souls. United finished 15th. They lost a European final. They lost face. They lost time. The apology, for once, felt earned. "If there is one club in the world… that can overcome any situation, it's our club." Ruben Amorim ❤️ — Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 25, 2025 Amorim, appointed in November amid a chorus of cautious optimism, stood in the centre-circle and offered a duality: sorrow for what had been, and hope for what might come. 'Secondly, I want to say thank you. We are very grateful for your support during the season,' he added, acknowledging the Stretford End's continued presence, if not their unmitigated patience. It is the curious alchemy of this club that it can experience so much disaster, yet still talk of destiny. 'Now we have to make a choice or we stay stuck in the past because this season is in the past, it's over. We fight each other, or we stick together and move forward.' That choice, it seems, is Amorim's central creed: from storm, solidarity. Back in December, with the giddy false dawn of a 4-0 win over Everton, Amorim warned that 'the storm is coming'. The foresight was not the problem. What followed — six defeats in seven, tactical muddles, positional dissonance, and the occasional existential crisis — was the real issue. 'Today, after this disaster season, I want to tell you — the good days are coming,' Amorim offered, with the assuredness of a man who still believes there is poetry left in this project. If this season taught us anything, it is that rebuilding Manchester United is not simply a matter of signing players, nor of issuing apologies. It is a philosophical crisis. A club forever caught between eras, between ideologies, between the past it romanticises and the future it never quite reaches. In a moment of poignant candour, Amorim turned inward: 'Now I want to say sorry also to my players, sometimes I was not fair but I always want to be honest with you guys.' It was not tactical nous that defined his speech. It was humility. United may have finished with goals from Amad and Eriksen, but their future, if it is to be bright, will be built on something rarer: honesty.
