After Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat arsenalmanager Reuben Amorim has admitted that his team’s difficulty defending from set pieces was the deciding factor in the game.
In conversation with BBC Match of the DayAmorim admitted the two corners that led to Arsenal’s goals “changed the game” after a relatively even first half.
“Until the set pieces, the game didn’t offer too many opportunities for either side, the set pieces destroyed the game,” he said.
United defender Matthijs de Ligt echoed his coach’s sentiments and suggested his side performed well defensively despite conceding goals from set pieces.
“In the defensive phase, the chances we conceded without standard situations were good,” he told MUTV.
Despite the disappointment with the result, Amorim remained positive about the overall performance, stating that his players were “committed” and that the dynamic could have changed if De Ligt had scored from a header that was brilliantly saved by the Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
The defeat was Amorim’s fourth game as Manchester United manager in all competitions since taking over. De Ligt admitted that the team is still getting used to the new manager’s system, but expressed confidence that improvements will come with time.
“We are on the way to improving as a team and I think the manager has said that too. If we approach it in a certain way, perhaps we now have a greater chance of achieving results,” he said.
Having exposed Manchester United’s set-piece weaknesses, Amorim and his players will be keen to address this issue as they look to recover from defeat and continue their progress under new leadership.