Ruben Amorim says Manchester United’s performance against lowly Southampton will teach him more about his players after positive results against Liverpool and Arsenal.
The Red Devils ended a four-game losing streak in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League earlier this month, before knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup on penalties on Sunday.
United also beat Manchester City in December but followed that up with defeats against Tottenham, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Wolves.
And Amorim says he is looking for an improvement in the performances against lesser sides, where they are expected to dominate the ball, rather than in the big games.
The Portuguese boss said: “This next game will teach me more from my players than the last two, so I’m really focused in seeing what kind of game we’re going to play tomorrow so I will learn more tomorrow.”
Asked why he will learn more, he replied: “Because there is no expectation for us in the last two games.
“No one believed that we could do a great performance or winning a game but now they are expecting us to win and play well so I will learn more this game.”
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 15, 2025
Asked if he was concerned about facing the Saints, he said: “I’m always concerned because we didn’t have the consistency in these games in performances or results so I’m always worried – it’s my job to be worrie
“We have to face Southampton in the same way that we faced Liverpool and Arsenal – understanding that they are different games.
“People expect us to win and that changes things. When you have the pressure to win that is the pressure we want and sometimes it’s harder to cope with that pressure because against Arsenal and Liverpool no one was expecting us to beat those teams but now it’s different.
“We have to be prepared for that pressure, we need that pressure to improve as a team and we need to face the game in the right way.”
Amorim not feeling the pressure
Amorim has endured a topsy-turvy tenure so far since replacing Erik ten Hag, with the club currently languishing in 14th in the Premier League but insists he does not feel under pressure at Old Trafford.
He added: “Of course you feel the pressure of the club but in this moment, I don’t feel that pressure.
“In the last years we haven’t won the league. In the past here, if you didn’t win the league one year you would have to win it the next. I don’t feel that pressure.
“We have to bring that pressure to us because outside the fans are amazing. I don’t feel that pressure, I just want to win. To feel that pressure in the future we need to win – we need to win titles and we need to win games.”