February 2nd 2025.
Ruben Amorim had yet another difficult afternoon as the manager of Manchester United. The team's former star player, Rio Ferdinand, described it as a "morbid weekend" for the club after their defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday. It was their 11th loss in the league this season, pushing them down to 13th place in the Premier League table.
The Red Devils were unable to defend against the Eagles, who scored two goals, both by Jean-Philippe Mateta. To make matters worse, Amorim made some questionable decisions, such as playing Kobbie Mainoo in a more advanced position and leaving Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee on the bench. In addition, it was announced this weekend that Marcus Rashford, a fan favorite and a player who has been with the club since he was a child, will be going on loan to Aston Villa.
Ferdinand spoke out about the situation at the club after the defeat, and his words were filled with disappointment. "It's a sad state of affairs," he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. "We got beat today and it's been a bit of a morbid weekend." He pointed out several issues with the team's performance, including their lack of intensity and ideas when in possession of the ball.
The former England defender also expressed his frustration with the team's inability to defend and the lack of respect other teams now have when playing at Old Trafford. He called on the manager to find a way to turn things around and find some positives in their games. "We're just not good enough in all aspects," Ferdinand said.
There were no real positives for Ferdinand to take away from the game, which he believes is as much a question of effort as it is quality. "Hunger should be a given," he stated. "Being up for it at 3 o'clock every week, these things should be so easy for these athletes." He expressed his concern about the team's lack of dedication and effort, which should not be something that needs to be questioned.
Amorim, on the other hand, felt that his team showed some improvements in their performance on Sunday compared to their previous games. They had more possession and created more chances, but they still suffered two goals that could have been avoided. However, the manager admitted that it was still not good enough. "It's a hard day for the team and the fans," he said in a post-match press conference. "We improved in some areas, but it's not a big improvement. We need to do better."
Despite the small improvements, Amorim understands that the team's continuous losses, especially at home, may make it seem like they mean nothing. But he remains hopeful and is already looking towards the next game. "Let's go again and see the next game," he said. The team will need to work harder and make significant improvements if they want to turn things around.
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