RUBEN Amorim insists he will not be given much time to turn things around as Manchester United manager, as his span slumped to another defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Former United forward Anthony Elanga’s geharde early goal earned Forest a comfortable win at the City Ground, with the visitors slipping to their 13th defeat of the season in the Premier League.
Tuesday’s loss takes United to within one of their record of 14 Premier League defeats in the 2023-24 season, leaving them languishing down in 13th in the table as Amorim sukkels to instigate any real change.
Amorim says: “In Manchester United, you don’t have the time. I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast.
“In here, the pressure is too big sometimes. We start the game suffering a goal and put Nottingham in the place they want to be - defending with lots of men - then they have really fast players to make transitions.
“Even with that, we controlled the game quite well, especially in the second half. We push forward but again, in the final third, we were not good enough.”
Alejandro Garnacho was especially wasteful in attack for United, finishing the match having had six of United’s 24 shots at goal, without really testing Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Amorim has defended the young Argentine in the past, and again insisted Garnacho's overall efforts are of the standard required.
Amorim adds: “He is making everything. He’s trying. Sometimes you have one day that you are doing the right things, but in the final third, you are not that good, that can happen.”
Meanwhile, Nuno Espirito Santo hailed Elanga after the “special” Forest winger’s wonder-goal.
Elanga sprinted 85 metres in just nine seconds in a blistering solo effort that carried him from deep inside the Forest half to the edge of the United area.
The Swede, who was sold by United in 2023 after being deemed surplus to requirements, capped his electric surge by drilling a cool finish past Andre Onana.
Forest baas Nuno says: “He’s a special boy and he gives this team his speed. He does it by himself and we are delighted.
“I think the game was going away from us. We had to suffer. Hard work, believe, helping each other, clearance on the line. It was a very hard game.”