Ruben Amorim has pinpointed the moment Manchester United lost their grip on the game against Bournemouth, following a thrilling 4-4 draw in the Premier League. Despite leading three times at Old Trafford, United could only manage a single point as Bournemouth repeatedly clawed their way back into the match.
Amad Diallo put United in the lead with a close-range header, only for Antoine Semenyo to level the score for the visitors. A back-post header from Casemiro saw United enter half-time with a 2-1 advantage. However, Bournemouth fought back with goals from Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier, taking a 3-2 lead. Bruno Fernandes then curled in a free-kick, followed by Matheus Cunha’s composed finish in the 79th minute to make it 4-3.
United’s defensive frailties were exposed once again when Junior Kroupi equalised five minutes later. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens had to be on his toes to deny David Brooks’ late effort, resulting in a draw. Despite United’s early dominance, Amorim believes they squandered their opportunity to secure the win.
« It’s really disappointing, » he told the BBC. « We are really disappointed. Crazy game. It might look like we lost the two points in the second half, but I think we lost them in the first half.
« We dominated and created so many chances. We had to go to half-time with a different result. In the end we deserved more. It was a fun game for everyone at home.
« People especially at Old Trafford want to win but they want to be inspired to see a team play good football. We did that well in certain moments. It was a good performance but we need to be more clinical because created so many chances.
« Lammens did really well. There were opportunities for both sides. We created more. We need to find ways of closing the games because this happened many times. That’s part of the process. We try to do things the best we can but in some moments it’s not enough. »
Speaking to Sky Sports, he echoed those sentiments. « It was a fun game for everyone at home. I think we started really well. We did a good first half, » Amorim said.
« The result should be completely different. And then again, six minutes of the second half, similar to Nottingham [Forest], we lost the concentration, and they score two goals. But we managed to get back to the game, we scored two goals again, and then we have to finish the game. Just a throw-in in our possession, we have to close and think about not to go again, to stay calm and close the game.
« I saw the effort of the players, I saw the effort of the defence, and at the end of the game, you make 4-3, I had the feeling that we would continue to push and score another one. We tried but in the end it was a draw.
« A lot of good things, but a lot of things to work [on]. We are not winning games sometimes in the details. It’s not because it’s a back four, back three, back five.
« It’s the details that we need to work, understand the momentum of the game and we need to be clinical. Again, today against a very good team, we created many chances to win the game, and we should have won the three points. »
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