Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has criticised his players’ mindset after they squandered a lead in Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
United looked on course for their first league win of the season when Rodrigo Muniz turned the ball into his own net in the 58th minute. But the Red Devils’ advantage lasted barely two minutes, as substitute Emile Smith Rowe struck almost immediately to level the game for Fulham.
Speaking after the match, a visibly frustrated Amorim admitted his team “forgot how to play” once they went ahead.
“I think we scored the goal and then we forgot about how we play,” the Portuguese coach told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We want to win so badly, and that is a good feeling, but instead of enjoying that moment and pushing the opponent, we tried to sit back, pressed too high in the wrong way, and left a lot of space. We have to grow up a lot as a team.”
Amorim stressed that United’s biggest challenge is mental, insisting that maturity and composure are needed to turn performances into results.
“Training and matches are the way forward. You need to win to feel more relaxed, not in intensity, but in mindset. We suffered at the end because Fulham’s equaliser shifted the momentum completely,” he added.
The result leaves United still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season under Amorim. Attention now turns to the Carabao Cup, where they face League Two side Grimsby Town on Wednesday. They will then return to league action against newly-promoted Burnley at Old Trafford on August 30.