Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has revealed that some of his players are “afraid” on the pitch ahead of their crunch clash against Premier League leaders and arch rivals Liverpool.
Amorim, appointed from Sporting CP to replace Erik ten Hag, has yet to turn around United’s poor form. The team has suffered four straight defeats across all competitions, failing to score in their last three Premier League games, and now sit 14th in the table.
Ahead of their trip to Anfield on Sunday to face the league leaders, the Red Devils face a daunting challenge, having failed to win in their last eight visits and not scoring in the last five.
“They [the players] are anxious, and sometimes afraid on the pitch,” Amorim told reporters ahead of the game. “We have to cope with that. We need the leaders to step up to help the other guys.
“You can see the players are trying [but] sometimes too anxious, too afraid to play football because this is a difficult moment. I’m the most responsible person here to improve the performances and we will help the players to be better.”
Asked about the pressure of managing at Old Trafford, he said: “Of course there is a lot of pressure. You can see in my face, you can compare it to when I arrive and now!
“For me, it’s more the pride and also the performance. It’s harder when we don’t perform well. When I arrived I explained everything before, even when you guys were talking after [beating] Everton about the top four, I explained I was expecting this.
“But it’s still hard to cope with all the problems and the bad performances and the losses. It’s really hard. The only thing that can help me is training with the players. And I also have my family now here so it’s so different and that can help me a lot.
“I will do my best. I am giving everything to help the club and we are going to succeed. I know it is hard to understand that in this moment, but we are going to succeed.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
