Everything Ruben Amorim said after Manchester United's defeat against Arsenal
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Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim, has spoken out following his team’s first defeat of the new Premier League season, which came at the hands of Arsenal.
Speaking during the post-match press conference at Old Trafford, Amorim was asked to share his thoughts on the overall performance of his players and, more specifically, the controversial winning goal scored by Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori.
The Portuguese manager expressed his frustration that the goal was allowed to stand even after a VAR review, insisting that his goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was impeded in the build-up.
On Calafiori’s goal, Amorim said: “It’s not really playing the ball. I understand we all want to see goals, but when you’re physically obstructing the goalkeeper, it changes everything. Sometimes he’s being pushed and doesn’t have his hands free to properly contest the ball. We need to be stronger and adapt, but the rules have to be applied fairly. From my point of view, today we were the better team.”
Despite his disappointment with the decision, Amorim praised his side’s courage and performance against a strong Arsenal team. He maintained that United showed the quality and mentality needed to compete with – and beat – any team in the league.
“I am very proud of the players. They showed bravery and commitment in everything they did on the pitch. Congratulations to them for the performance. Honestly, we deserved a different result. But we must move on quickly and focus on the next challenge. We have the squad to win any game in the Premier League, regardless of the opponent. For us, it’s all about staying focused and shutting out the noise. Whoever is on the pitch, the target remains the same – winning matches.”
Amorim also addressed questions surrounding his decision to leave Andre Onana out of the squad for the Arsenal clash. The Cameroonian goalkeeper’s absence sparked speculation, but the United boss clarified that it was purely a tactical choice based on pre-season preparations.
“I haven’t ruled out Onana. This isn’t about abandoning him. It’s simply about the competition for places. Onana had just one week of training and hadn’t played any matches. Meanwhile, Tom [Heaton] and Altay [Bayindir] did very well throughout pre-season. I’m happy with all three goalkeepers and I will continue to select the best option for each game.”
Looking ahead, Manchester United will aim to bounce back from the opening-day disappointment when they travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in their Matchday 2 fixture.
