FANS joked “he’s taking lessons from Mikel Arteta” after Ruben Amorim made a very bold claim about Manchester United’s loss to Arsenal.
The Red Devils were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a 13th minute Riccardo Calafiori header.
New signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were unable to make an impact against the Gunners.
And goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was blasted by Roy Keane for his role in the defensive calamity that led to Arsenal’s winner.
However, Amorim left supporters stunned at full-time when he delivered his thoughts on United’s performance.
The home side enjoyed more possession on Sunday and had 22 shots to Arsenal’s 9.
This led Amorim to declare that United were the better side on the day – before adding that his men “can win any game.”
The tactician boomed: “We prove today that we can win any game in the Premier League, especially against a great team like Arsenal.
“We were the better team. It’s our feeling that we played better. In the end, we lose the game, but I’m really proud of the effort they put in and that is important to move forward.
“We were more aggressive than last year, we sprinted more, we were more brave.
“I think the most important thing was that we were not boring.”
However, fans hearing Amorim’s words were left in stitches, comparing the Portuguese to Arsenal boss Arteta.
What did we learn about Man Utd in Arsenal defeat?
MANCHESTER UNITED have splashed the cash this summer but that couldn’t prevent an opening day home loss to Arsenal.
Here are SunSport Manchester United reporter Martin Blackburn’s key takeaways from the narrow 1-0 defeat vs the Gunners.
No 1 ISSUE
UNITED have been linked with Gianluigi Donnarumma and David de Gea in recent weeks, and surely they will sign a keeper before the window shuts.
Ruben Amorim has faith in Andre Onana — even if a lot of the fans do not — but he did not consider him ready to start here.
The Cameroonian has missed the whole of pre-season with a hamstring injury. So Altay Bayindir, who has played throughout the build-up to the season, got the nod — and ended up costing his team the game.
He should have been stronger under pressure from William Saliba and flapped a corner on to the head of Riccardo Calafiori.
Bayindir has had problems with set-pieces before.
Amorim and sporting director Jason Wilcox have two weeks to come up with a solution before the end of the transfer window.
NO GOALS — AGAIN
UNITED mustered just 44 goals in the Prem last season — and here they were starting with a blank again.
The Red Devils have spent £200million sprucing up their forward line this summer, and there were encouraging signs from Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
But new £74m centre-forward Benjamin Sesko stayed on the bench until the 65th minute.
On a couple of occasions before then there were crosses into the box but nobody there to put them away.
Amorim said on Friday he believes Sesko can be United’s No 9 for many years to come — and that is why they spent so heavily on him.
So it seemed a strange call to leave him on the bench for so long. Clearly the fans agreed as he was given a huge ovation when he arrived.
A couple of late half-chances went begging but the Slovenian did enough to show he will be a threat.
MIDFIELD STILL AN ISSUE
UNITED have abandoned their bid to land Carlos Baleba at least until next summer because of Brighton’s asking price.
There is an interest in Sporting’s Morten Hjulmand, while United are one of several clubs who admire Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
But there is a chance they will not sign another outfield player, and fans will be worried about the options in midfield.
Casemiro was excellent in Europe last season but did not have the same impact in Prem matches, while we are still waiting to see the best of Manuel Ugarte.
United are going to be more exciting to watch this season — that is clear already — but will they still have a soft centre?
Last year the Spaniard declared his Gunners were “the best team” in the Champions League despite losing their semi-final tie to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Fans teased Amorim by saying: “He’s taking lessons from Mikel Arteta.”
Another declared: “How can they prove they can win any game when they lost?”
One noted: “He’s giving Erik ten Hag vibes.”
Another added: “Better team and you still lost.”
We prove today that we can win any game in the Premier League.
Ruben Amorim
Meanwhile, Amorim defended his decision to play reserve goalkeeper Bayindir after his blunder led to Arsenal’s winner.
The Turkish international flapped at a Declan Rice corner under pressure from William Saliba and presented Calafiori with a simple finish.
Red Devils legend Keane blasted the understudy, who started as regular No 1 Andre Onana was not considered match fit.
United boss Amorim and captain Bruno Fernandes stuck up for Bayindir – saying the goal should have been ruled out for a foul.
There was no foul for Arsenal’s goal – the keeper must be stronger, says Mark Halsey
RUBEN AMORIM felt Riccardo Calafiori’s first-half winner for Arsenal was a foul on his keeper Altay Bayindir but I have to disagree, write ex-Prem referee Mark Halsey.
It was a perfectly good goal.
Bayindir has got to be a lot stronger in those situations.
He has got to come out and punch the ball.
There was no foul from Gunners defender William Saliba. It was normal contact.
We see it go on all the time in the penalty area.
No foul at all on Bayindir. There has to be clear contact or a clear blocking move from an Arsenal player to constitute a foul in those situations.
The referee and VAR got it spot on.
It wasn’t a foul and the goalkeeper has simply got to be stronger.
Boss Amorim said: “In that moment, you can choose to push a player or to get the ball. So he chooses to get the ball – but he’s getting pushed.
“It’s hard to accept when you lose a game like this.
“Players are touching the goalkeeper without the idea of going for the ball. So that is not allowed.
“We have referees making meetings that they should be going for the ball, but they are not going for the ball.
“They are looking for the ball. We know what they are doing.”
Fernandes said: “When you touch a goalkeeper when he wants to jump and go for the ball, that makes it difficult for him.”
“Altay was saying the moment he goes to get the ball he gets a touch but we know in the Premier League they don’t give much in this type of situation.
“That’s even though they had a meeting with us saying that they will whistle more if players block and don’t look at the ball.”
But Keane saw the incident differently, saying: “If you are the goalkeeper just take control of the six-yard box.
“Keepers and defenders complain all the time that people are in their face – well, get in their face!
“Be aggressive. I have said many times to my goalkeeper: ‘Come with violence. Come and be aggressive, that is your area, take control of it’.
Asked about his decision to leave Onana on the sidelines, Amorim said it was a fitness issue, adding: “It’s not the case of dropping Ornana.
“It was not putting him in just one week after he returned, without seeing the game, without time, with training.
“I’m happy with the three goalkeepers we have.”
Fernandes added: “They created a lot, they were in the right positions. We know they are dangerous and they are a threat.
“We are very aware of what they can give to the team. It was a good first impression for them but I’m pretty sure they will do much better.”
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