Amorim: My obsession has changed. Last season I could hardly breathe.

Sports 10:45pm, 20 November 2025 151

Manchester United coach Amorim has been in office for more than a year. In a recent interview, he talked about his changes in the past year and his feelings about doing this job.

Your changes?

"I do feel like I've changed, the way I look at things has changed. I used to have my own obsession with the style of play, the offensive organization in certain situations, but now I've made changes. In the Premier League, we're very data-driven, so you have to change the way you do things, and you have to stay focused at all times.

"Of course, you want to stick to your specific way of playing, but you also need to adapt. You also have to understand when you need to have more possession of the ball, figure out how we can neutralize the opponent through corner kicks, all those little details are important. "

How do you feel about coaching this year?

"Last season, I felt that I was always overwhelmed by the intensive schedule. I had no time to calm down, and I didn't realize that my job was not limited to the court, but also to inspire everyone off the court. I had a lot of emotion last season because I struggled with the team's record.

"I have also been saying that rebuilding takes time, and I am the one who shoulders the greatest responsibility. I must take care of everything and control my emotions better."

So far in the Premier League this season, Manchester United is the team with the most goals in the first half (11), but it is also the team that has conceded the most in the second half (14)

"I think we are in the second half We lost the intensity of the game and we lost some games. I think it was related to Casemiro's two absences due to injuries. Maguire was also in a similar situation. They are all key players, not only indispensable in game performance and experience, but they are also important in set pieces, and many people ignore this.

"And after we took the lead, we lost the motivation to continue to press. It’s a combination of factors and I think teams will automatically think ‘don’t let the opponent score’, but our mentality should be ‘we’re already one goal ahead and we just need one more chance to seal the win’. So I think this is both a psychological aspect and a physical issue. We still need to improve in these aspects. "

In the 12th round of the Premier League this weekend, Manchester United will face Everton

"First of all, I think they are stronger than before. Everton's defense is very compact. You can't just look at the results of the game, but also pay attention to the process. For example, they lost 0-3 to Tottenham. If you watched the game, you will know that there was mainly a problem with the set piece.

"Grealish is in good shape now. He can drive the team and bring more confidence to the team. Ndiaye is also a very good player. They may use James Garner as the right back. In addition, considering the set-piece tactics, O'Brien should also start. So, they are more comprehensive now, and Moyes has done a great job. It will be very, very difficult to win this game."