Ahead of this midweek Premier League fixture against Wolves, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim attended the pre-match press conference, where the Portuguese tactician addressed a host of club-related topics and updates.
What is your view of Wolves ahead of the upcoming match?
"They showed their quality against Arsenal and Liverpool. In the Premier League, there are always surprises. They have their issues, and we have ours. But there are no excuses for this game – we have to win."
On building momentum for the team
"Yes, of course, we have to secure the win. Wolves proved that against Arsenal, getting at least a point. So anything can happen in the Premier League. They have their problems, we have ours, but none of that is an excuse. We need to win, and we will give everything to claim victory."
On United’s current injury crisis and key players leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations
"I’m not sure if Mount will be available for the Wolves game. Mainoo won’t recover in time, and Bruno Fernandes is also unavailable. De Ligt and Maguire are also ruled out of the comeback too."
On trialling various tactical systems and asking players to play out of position in recent weeks, after sticking with the 3-5-2 formation long-term since taking charge
"This is a process. When I took over last season, I realised the current squad might not fit that system, but it was just the start of the process. We are working hard to build the team’s identity."
"Things are different now. We are short-handed and have to adapt flexibly, and the players understand why these changes are needed. This is not under pressure from the media or fans, but based on our understanding of the ideal playing style – the tactical principles remain consistent."
"We can adjust the formation and believe the team will improve as a result. When everyone is back, we won’t stick with three centre-backs forever and will keep pushing forward. But this requires communication: if we change formations too often, the players will think I’m making adjustments due to external influence, and that would be the end for a manager."
"When we perform well in the current system, if a formation change can bring the next win, that’s the right time to adjust – just like we did today (against Newcastle). I’m working hard to improve, learning from all the mistakes last season and trying to make changes."
On Bruno Fernandes’ injury recovery progress
"He’s never a man who stays silent when he’s not playing; he speaks up all the time. That’s why he’s the captain – even though his arm-waving gestures spark controversy at times, he has many strengths and always leads the team in matches and training."
"Even after receiving treatment, he watches training sessions. I don’t know if he’s eyeing my job (laughs), but he’s a born leader, and his presence is extremely important for our club."
On whether the club will sign new players in the winter transfer window
"Sometimes I have one idea, and Jason and the board may have another, but every decision we make needs to reach a consensus. This is crucial, because you can’t cater to the manager on everything – after all, managers can be replaced, and then you have to change with it. But you also need to know that the manager understands the team’s tactical system. If there’s no consensus, the players won’t come, so we strive to achieve this. We will do our best to assess their lifestyle, training methods and personal characteristics."
