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Ruben Amorim reaction — Defiant Manchester United boss on relegation fight, system

For perhaps the first time, Ruben Amorim’s post-match interview meant answering questions about some perceived errors he made and not just the foibles of his Manchester United selections on the pitch in a 2-0 loss on Monday.

The Red Devils went behind 2-0 to visiting Newcastle United at Old Trafford and looked capable of leaking several more goals before Amorim made a 33rd-minute sub to switch his initial plans.

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There was always the risk of dissonance as Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte were absent with suspensions, and Amorim opted for a midfield duo of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro behind Joshua Zirkzee, Amad Diallo, and Rasmus Hojlund.

It was odd to see Kobbie Mainoo on the bench against Newcastle’s fantastic, heady midfield, and the Magpies got goals on crosses to the heart of the Red Devils’ back line. Lisandro Martinez had a rough day. Mainoo’s introduction gave United some footing, though they couldn’t find a way past longtime Newcastle keeper — and one-time, short-term Man Utd loanee — Martin Dubravka.

Amorim says this performance was more about the lack of training time he’s had to institute his system. That may be correct, but it doesn’t look any good right now.

Ruben Amorim reaction (video) — Manchester United boss on relegation fight, making changes

On what went wrong in the first half: “We suffered a goal. In this moment it’s really hard to come back. We tried but without the quality, they don’t have the base with the way we play to cope with these moments. They are a better team. They controlled the game. Everything they did was like a team. For us, it was more of the moments of players. But they are trying.”

On if he could’ve done something else besides the 33rd-minute Zirkzee/Mainoo sub: “If I think that I could do something to change the result, I do. Like I said it was more the belief from the players, less my job of changing something. In this moment we don’t have training and we don’t have the base. When you’re in the difficult moment, you need that base. They were better than us, plain and simple.”

How they can fix things? “Training, just using every minute of the training to try to improve the team to give them that base to cope with every minute of the game.”

On if he will change: “I will continue with my ideas until they have to change the coach. It’s a choice that everybody makes. If I feel it’s the best thing for my team and to pass my message. We cannot go back. We’ve had four trainings altogether. It’s really clear. I am here because of my ideas and I will continue to do my idea until the end.”

On relegation fight: “It’s really clear and we have to fight. It’s one of the most difficult moments in the history of Manchester United and we have to address it with honesty.”

Would he not change at risk of job? “In every game I change something tactical. You focus on the three defenders, but I change something every game.”

Amorim: Newcastle 'were better than us'
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim reflects on his side's 2-0 loss to Newcastle at Old Trafford in Matchweek 19.