Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim defended his resolution to take off captain Bruno Fernandes because the hosts suffered a 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Outdated Trafford.
Nikola Milenkovic, Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wooden scored as Forest inflicted a second straight defeat on Amorim’s facet within the Premier League.
Fernandes was one of many higher gamers for United on the pitch and scored their second aim within the 61st minute to arrange a tense end to the sport.
However the Portugal worldwide was substituted within the seventy fifth minute, with Mason Mount changing him as United failed to seek out inroads into the Forest defence.
“Bruno was too drained and I wished Mount to play that place of second midfielder who opens a bit on the left,” Amorim instructed Sky Sports activities after the sport.
“Joshua [Zirkzee] performs with Rasmus [Hojlund] to have mixtures, [Leny] Yoro goes off as a result of we will’t give him too many minutes.
A slender defeat at Outdated Trafford.#MUFC || #MUNNFO
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 7, 2024
“We put Harry Maguire on due to set-pieces, to regulate extra who was profitable all the primary balls, the one technique to assault Nottingham was transitions, to attempt to win first and second balls. When Harry was on the pitch, he gained all the primary balls.”
Fernandes was additionally denied by the woodwork from a free-kick within the first half as United dropped to thirteenth within the desk. They had been additionally overwhelmed 2-0 by Arsenal on the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
“It’s not a shock as a result of we come in the midst of a number of video games,” stated Amorim.
“It’s actually disappointing for the followers, after so many occasions with disappointment, however we’re right here to do a job and can proceed doing the identical issues to enhance the staff.”
In the meantime, their opponents moved to fifth place with one other spectacular victory and are actually solely two factors behind champions Manchester Metropolis above them.
Temper. pic.twitter.com/aIabBFMoZk
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 7, 2024
Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet have gained seven matches and drawn and misplaced 4 apiece to gather 25 factors from 15 matches.
Forest scored inside two minutes in each halves at Outdated Trafford to bounce again from a 3-0 defeat to Manchester Metropolis through the midweek.
“The idea of the gamers, believing each motion is necessary [to scoring early goals]. The start of the second half was superb for us too. Composure was good. The staff is rising, and bettering. We nonetheless have issues to handle however it’s good,” Nuno instructed BBC Sport.
“It’s crucial at all times to bounce again after a foul end result. We didn’t have a foul efficiency towards Metropolis. Contemporary leg made a distinction through the recreation.”
Whereas United face Metropolis of their subsequent Premier League outing, Forest welcome Aston Villa of their subsequent outing.