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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has attributed his team’s defeat to Nottingham Forest to a lack of sharpness and clinical finishing in front of goal.
Ex-United forward Anthony Elanga scored an early goal to secure Forest all three points at the City Ground.
Elanga needed only five minutes to break the deadlock as he embarked on a run from the edge of his side’s penalty area before firing the ball into the back of the United, well past the reach of Andre Onana.
United had the lion’s share of possession and created some decent chances but they couldn’t get the much-needed equaliser.
Harry Maguire had the best late chances for the Red Devils, heading wide with the goal at his mercy, then forcing Murillo to clear off the line with the final kick of the game.
It was another frustrating outing for United, who remain in 13th position in the Premier League table with eight games left to play.
After the final whistle, Amorim spoke to TNT Sports [via BBC Live Reporting] and gave his verdict on the results and his team’s performance.
The Portuguese coach was particularly seething with the players’ lack of cutting edge in promising attacking positions.
Amorim told TNT, “We controlled the game, but we already knew this team can score goals out of nothing. When they scored we changed the game a little bit from what they want.”
“We tried with good opportunities, but in the last third, the last pass, the last assist wasn’t there. Then if we don’t have that we cannot score goals.”
“This season is like that. We had a lot of shots on goal, we pushed the opponent to the last third, but in the last third we had a lack of quality. We need to win games and we deserved more in this game, that is clear. But it is our fault and we need to be better in the last third. We should have won this game, not even drawn, but in the end we have lost three points.”
He continued, “We know the characters of the team and one goal can put them in one situation they love. We have to score two goals to win a match and that is frustrating as it was the beginning of the game. We helped them to win three points.”
Amorim however acknowledged that United are improving and this was evident despite the defeat.
“I see it in the game. I don’t lie to myself, everyone can say whatever they want to say, but we need to win games. We go to the next game.”
“We have Europa League and we have the next game in the Premier League and that is the focus.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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