Manchester United’s Resilience
MANCHESTER, England — Under the guidance of manager Ruben Amorim, Manchester United has achieved notable victories against top rivals like Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea. However, their 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day may have been the most rewarding achievement.
Despite a squad weakened by injuries and player call-ups, Amorim’s patched-up team secured this vital win at Old Trafford. The victory came courtesy of a brilliant goal from Patrick Dorgu, who played as a right winger despite being a left-back. The defense, led by Leny Yoro, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, and Tyrell Malacia, stood firm under pressure from Newcastle, allowing United to achieve only their second clean sheet of the season.
In a tactical shift, Amorim utilized a back four for the first time since joining from Sporting CP. This strategy proved effective, particularly in the first half. After the match, he expressed satisfaction with the players’ determination during challenging moments. “I’m really pleased, especially in the second half,” he stated, highlighting the need for luck in their defensive success.
Amorim had noted before the kickoff that there would be “no excuses” against Newcastle. However, the mounting injury list has created significant challenges. Key players like Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are participating in AFCON, while Fernandes is sidelined with a hamstring injury. His proposed replacement, Kobbie Mainoo, is also unavailable due to injury. Additionally, senior defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are out as well.
The situation worsened as midfielder Lisandro Martínez was forced to leave the field, along with Luke Shaw and Casemiro. This forced Amorim to rely on young talents like Jack Fletcher and players like Malacia, who had not featured since January.
Nevertheless, United managed to hold on against Newcastle. The visiting side had several opportunities, but only a few efforts were on target, with the closest shot coming from Lewis Hall, whose shot hit the crossbar. United won the match with just 33% possession, their lowest in a league victory since January 2023.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating that they struggled to create clear scoring chances, particularly in away matches. Despite the loss, Amorim’s United is gradually finding its rhythm, with each recent game providing some positives. Although they had difficulty against Aston Villa, the win against Newcastle provides hope as they face upcoming matches without several key players. With determination and teamwork, they can potentially challenge for European qualification, moving up to fifth in the table.
