A year after his dramatic 'the storm is coming' line following a 4-0 Old Trafford visit, Ruben Amorim struck a more measured tone as his Manchester United side returned to the stadium and came away defeated. His warning about the squad's development — that they remain 'far from perfection' — proved pointed.
Beyond the spectacle of the Idrissa Gueye–Michael Keane confrontation and the red card that left one side with 10 men for 77 minutes, the game exposed the flaws Amorim had highlighted before kick-off. For long stretches he watched players struggle to impose themselves.
Young defenders Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro gave the ball away carelessly while trying to help build from the back; Amad Diallo, introduced as an attacking replacement for the injured Matheus Cunha, repeatedly chose the wrong options; and usually dependable performers such as Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes spurned the chances that might have shifted the result.
Joshua Zirkzee, handed his first start of the season, and Kobbie Mainoo, afforded an extended run after replacing Casemiro, failed to press their claims for more minutes.
