Amorim urges Man Utd to ignore Old Trafford noise after poor defeat

Ruben Amorim urged Manchester United to focus on what they can control, rather than the discontent inside Old Trafford, after Sunday's hammering by Bournemouth.

Andoni Iraola's side were good value for a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, with Dean Huijsen heading his side ahead before Justin Kluivert's penalty and Antoine Semenyo's finish sealed three points.

The defeat leaves United in the bottom half of the table at Christmas for the first time since the 1989-90 season, and offers Amorim a mountain to climb in the new year.

The former Sporting CP boss is intent on turning things around, however, as he called on United to ignore the murmurs of frustration inside Old Trafford.

"It's hard to push for two, three wins and we are trying," Amorim said after United followed up an impressive 2-1 win over Manchester City with defeat in their next league outing.

"This game was hard on us. We suffered again on set-pieces and we were a bit nervous, I felt it in the stadium.

"The penalty and another goal are really hard here. We tried to score some goals but it was a tough match so let's move on.

"If you look at the game, we were not conceding anything before the first goal, we had opportunities. If we manage to score the first goal then the game should be different. We want to score but we are too nervous. We have to fight this.

"After the penalty, we need to control the game better because we know this situation is really hard. We have to control better this moment.

"We have to focus on the job and not what you feel in the stadium. It's the only way I know how to focus my players. We have to suffer again but we will try to win. We will do it until the end."

4 - Only Southampton (5) have conceded 3+ goals in a Premier League home game more times than Manchester United (4) this season. Erratic. pic.twitter.com/mfhKwIJCYs

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 22, 2024

United have now conceded 17 set-piece goals in the Premier League in 2024, excluding penalties, their most ever in a single calendar year in the competition.

Defensive issues remain aplenty, though the same cannot be said for Iraola's battling side who climbed up to fifth in the table with this win.

"It's an important win for us," Iraola said. "We won 3-0 but it was more difficult than it looks when you see 3-0. I think we've been quite solid, it was a mature performance.

"Kepa [Arrizabalaga]'s performance has helped us this year. He has been very good in possession and with positions. I think he is confident and in a very young defensive line, we need players with experience.

"I am happy that we were more clinical. We scored from a set play. I think it was a solid performance. Not amazing, but it was solid.

"I value the 28 points. I think the amount of points we have is good. At Christmas, it is a good amount."