Late Controversial Winner Saves United, but Manager Admits “We Have to Do So Much Better”
Manchester United scraped through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a dramatic 2-1 win over Leicester City, but manager Ruben Amorim was far from satisfied, labeling the performance as “poor” despite the positive result. A controversial injury-time winner from Harry Maguire sealed the victory, but Amorim was left frustrated by his team’s lackluster display, particularly in the first half.
Leicester took the lead in the first half through Bobby De Cordova-Reid, leaving United struggling to find their rhythm. Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to equalize in the second half, injecting some much-needed energy into the side. However, it was Maguire’s late header, which appeared to be offside, that ultimately decided the match. The goal sparked outrage from Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, as the absence of VAR meant the decision stood, denying Leicester a chance to fight for a spot in extra time.
Amorim, while relieved with the result, did not hold back in his assessment of United’s performance. “It was a good result, but not a good performance,” he told ITV. “We had to believe until the end, but this game has nothing to do with the time of Fergie. I think we have to do so much better with the ball, without the ball. We didn’t have any energy in the beginning, especially in the first half.”
The United manager acknowledged his own responsibility for the team’s struggles, emphasizing the need for improvement across the board. “When a team doesn’t perform or doesn’t improve, the coach is the first responsible,” he said. “It’s the small things, the big things, it’s everything. Sometimes it’s about controlling the ball, not giving it away under pressure. We have to cope with this moment, especially at home, and we will try to do better in the next game.”
Amorim also expressed sympathy for Leicester, admitting that Maguire’s winner should have been disallowed. “The goal was offside. We should have VAR here to overturn the decision because it’s hard on the opponent, it’s hard on Ruud,” he said.
Despite the criticism, Amorim found some positives in the second-half response, praising the impact of substitutes and the team’s improved energy levels. “We showed some spirit, more energy in the second half. Some players came in and helped the team, so it was a good result,” he added.
The win spared United from a ninth defeat under Amorim and a second consecutive loss at Old Trafford within a week. With automatic qualification for the UEFA Europa League last 16 secured, United now have a brief break before returning to Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur on February 16.
For now, Amorim and his team will be reflecting on a narrow escape and working to address the issues that nearly cost them dearly against Leicester. As the manager put it, “We have to do so much better.”
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