After Manchester United’s narrow 3-1 victory over Southampton, Ruben Amorim quickly responded to Paul Scholes’ criticism regarding his players’ enthusiasm.

Scholes, known for his blunt but often fair analysis, had claimed that United’s performance lacked the energy and mentality Amorim had previously highlighted as crucial for success.

The Match: Narrow Escape and Amad Diallo’s Heroics

United managed to secure their first home win since December, but it wasn’t without drama.

Southampton, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table, shocked everyone by taking the lead with an own goal from Manuel Ugarte in the first half.

The visitors fought hard, holding onto their lead until the 82nd minute, when Amad Diallo scored the first of three goals in a 12-minute hat-trick, rescuing United from what would have been a disastrous upset.

Scholes’ Criticism and Amorim’s Defense

Paul Scholes didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment of the game.

He pointed out that the players seemed to lack the enthusiasm and drive that Amorim had emphasized in previous comments about the mentality required for such matches.

According to Scholes, United’s performance fell short in terms of energy, especially for the first 75 minutes.

Scholes commented, “I think you’d have been looking for a bit more of that mentality, that strength, almost enthusiasm for the game tonight, which wasn’t quite there again for 70/75 minutes.”

Amorim, however, respectfully disagreed, offering a detailed explanation for the team’s struggles.

He explained that the pressure of playing at Old Trafford, where United had lost their last three matches, was a contributing factor.

“It’s not just being tired, but playing in this stadium… the pressure is different,” he said.

Amorim Highlights Tactical Issues

Amorim attributed the lack of enthusiasm to the tactical challenges his team faced during the match.

He noted that Southampton created problems for United, especially in the midfield, making it difficult for them to press high and regain possession.

Amorim said, “These small things push the team behind, and then we get nervous without the ball.

But when you have one click, one goal, one opportunity, you feel like the team can control the game better.”

He also stressed that the performance wasn’t a result of a lack of enthusiasm but rather a lack of speed and control in the game.

“I want to be fair with my players,” Amorim added.

“Today wasn’t a lack of enthusiasm, it was a lack of speed and sometimes control of the game.”

Scholes’ Continued Critique

While Amorim defended his players, Scholes continued to express his concerns about United’s performance.

He called it “one of the worst performances” he had seen, especially against a team struggling at the bottom of the table.

“For 80 minutes, they were so much better than Manchester United—passing the ball, technically, tactically,” Scholes said.

“Amad Diallo was the only bright spark.”

Scholes also questioned whether Amorim would be satisfied with the performance, given that Southampton is a team that struggles both offensively and defensively.

“Amad is the only one who can take credit out of this game tonight. I thought Southampton were much better tactically and technically.”

Moving Forward

Despite Scholes’ criticism, Amorim remains focused on helping Manchester United improve.

He will be looking to guide his team to better performances, starting with their next match against Brighton on Sunday.

With United’s position in the Premier League still needing improvement, Amorim’s leadership and his players’ ability to find consistency will be crucial in the upcoming fixtures.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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