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Man Utd have to survive this season - Amorim

football22 February 2025 20:01| © AFP
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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim described his side as "soft" despite fighting back from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Everton on Saturday.

United looked destined for a ninth defeat in 13 Premier League games when goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure gave Everton a deserved halftime lead.

However, captain Bruno Fernandes inspired a fightback from the visitors to at least prevent another defeat for Amorim's men.

Fernandes curled in a free-kick with United's first shot on target on 72 minutes.

Manuel Ugarte levelled shortly afterwards after another Fernandes set-piece delivery was only partially cleared.

United, though, were fortunate to escape Goodison Park with a point as Everton had a penalty controversially ruled out after a VAR review in stoppage time.

The Red Devils remain down in 15th, but are 13 points clear of the bottom three and should be safe from the embarrassment of relegation.

"The worst part is that we are losing the ball without pressure and we are not doing what we need to do. We were soft", said Amorim, who has taken just 15 points from a possible 45 since taking charge in November.

"In this moment, we need to focus on day-by-day. We need to survive this season and then we can think ahead.

"I don't want to just say the negative part. In the second half, we were close to winning this game."

In contrast to United's struggles under new management, David Moyes' return has propelled Everton towards safety.

The Toffees were in a relegation battle when the former United boss returned last month, but they have taken 14 points from the last six games to surge up to 12th.

Moyes was disappointed not to take all three points after a dominant first half but gave credit for the manner in which Fernandes helped turned the tide after the break.

"We should have been probably three up, I think if we'd been three up we wouldn't be shamed by that at all," said the Scot.

"To go 2-0 up was great, but 2-0 is always a dangerous position to be in as a manager. Manchester United have got nothing to lose but to come in and have a go.

"I don't think it was as much as what we lacked, I thought Bruno played well. They dropped him deeper and he got on the ball much more and we found that a bit more difficult to deal with at the time."

Moyes, though, was left baffled at the late decision to instruct referee Andy Madley to review his on-field award of a penalty when Ashley Young was pulled back by a combination of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt.

"I thought the on-field decision looked the correct decision," added Moyes.

"I'm a bit surprised he was asked to go to VAR because I thought that it looked difficult to change your mind on that.

"But I think when they go to VAR you very rarely get them to change their mind. It's as if they think on-pitch, the people who are seeing it on the television see much more and understand more."

PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE OUT OF ARSENAL'S CONTROL

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta blasted his players for failing to hit the standards demanded of Premier League title winners in a crushing 1-0 defeat to lowly West Ham on Saturday.

The Gunners' hopes of a first league title in 21 years faded with their first home defeat of the season to remain eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

Jarrod Bowen scored the only goal of the game when he headed in just before halftime for his 50th Premier League goal.

Arsenal's indiscipline also cost them when Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off with 18 minutes remaining – the fifth red card shown to Arteta's men this season.

Liverpool had shown signs of feeling the pressure of title favourites in recent weeks as they dropped points at Everton and Aston Villa.

But the Reds can now open up an enormous 11-point cushion when they visit Manchester City on Sunday.

"It's not in our hands," said Arteta on the title race.

"I am really, really annoyed with the things that are in our hands - which is the performance and the result - and we didn't do that as well as we possibly could.

"I am very disappointed, and obviously very angry as well. Even though we had 20 shots, I never felt that we were at the standard and the level that we needed.

"We have to be (angry), and I hope we are because we didn't hit the levels today, and I am very much responsible of that so I am very, very angry."

Arsenal's title challenge has been ravaged by injuries to almost their entire forward line.

Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka were again sidelined, forcing midfielder Mikel Merino to deputise as a centre forward.

Arteta, though, refused to rely on that excuse as he demanded more from those who were available.

"I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included," added the Spaniard.

"That was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.

"We have to look in the mirror of ourselves of what we can do better. The will, the desire, the way we run and the way we want it, (there is) zero question about that.

"But at that level that is not enough. You have to deliver, and it has to be with quality to break down a really good team and put in the actions that can allow threatening moments to win games, and today we didn't do that."

SPURS REVITALISED AFTER IPSWICH ROUT

Ange Postecoglou claimed Tottenham are back on track after Brennan Johnson's double inspired a 4-1 victory at struggling Ipswich on Saturday.

Johnson put Tottenham on course for a third successive Premier League victory to ease the pressure on under-fire boss Postecoglou.

At a ground where his father David Johnson had been prolific across a four-year spell, the Wales forward netted twice in the first half.

Omari Hutchinson reduced the deficit before halftime, but Tottenham squashed Ipswich's hopes of a fightback with late goals from Djed Spence and Dejan Kulusevski.

A run of six defeats from seven league games as Tottenham were ravaged by injuries led to speculation that Postecoglou could be sacked.

The north Londoners also crashed out of the League Cup semifinals and FA Cup fourth round against Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively in the space of four days.

But Postecoglou had insisted they would thrive once the walking wounded returned and Johnson, back off from the treatment table, underlined the Australian's belief.

"I thought we did the hard things really well," Postecoglou said. "A couple of times in the first half we lost a bit of concentration in terms of the second ball and duels.

"It was a disappointing goal we conceded, but aside from that I thought we handled that side of the game really well.

"I always felt we were a threat when we had the ball. Son Heung-min was unplayable in the first half and so good to get Brennan back in those areas where he's always a threat."

After such a turbulent period, former Celtic boss Postecoglou was relieved to see Tottenham resemble the attacking force he wants to field on a regular basis.

"All four of our goals were quality goals. We had to do the hard things, but the fruits of that labour was that our front third play was super exciting and clinical," he said.

"We're certainly in a good space of using these two weeks as well as we could to re-energise the team and I think it has.

"We've still got some significant players out. We've got (Dominic) Solanke, Richarlison, (Cristian) Romero, (Micky) Van de Ven, Ben Davies, he's out today. They're all still to come back."

Tottenham haven't won a major trophy since 2008 but Postecoglou claimed earlier this season that he always lifts silverware in his second campaign with a club.

For that to happen, Tottenham must win the Europa League, with a last 16 date against AZ Alkmaar looming in March.

"I just feel like we've got a really good opportunity in these next 10 days to be well equipped for what's ahead," he said.

"What's ahead is obviously Europe but also an opportunity to address our league position, which is obviously not good enough."

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