Ruben Amorim praised his Manchester United side for securing their place in the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Arsenal, emphasizing their unity under pressure.
United faced significant adversity, playing with 10 men from the 61st minute after Diogo Dalot received a second yellow card for a tackle on Mikel Merino. Despite this challenge, the team held firm, forcing extra time and a penalty shootout to clinch victory. This triumph comes on the heels of their 2-0 loss to Arsenal on December 4, which marked Amorim’s first defeat as United manager.
Amorim remarked, “We displayed a different mentality compared to our last match against Arsenal, even with 10 men. We struggled early in the game to control possession and found ourselves chasing the ball. While Arsenal didn’t create major chances, they dominated with fresh legs and maintained control, making it a tough fight for us.”
“However, our unity and determination to overcome the difficulties paid off. We deserved this win because we suffered together and demonstrated great character. The players were exhausted, but from the start, I felt it was our day. There was a strong connection between our fans, our staff, and the team. It was a very special day for us.”
The Red Devils’ victory came via penalties, showcasing a ‘different spirit’ in contrast to their recent league loss at the Emirates. Amorim specifically praised deputy goalkeeper Altay Bayindir as a ‘hero’ for his performance, stating, “He’s a good guy, he works a lot, and life has beautiful things. A few weeks ago, we were suffering through a difficult moment, but now he’s like a hero for us.”
Amorim noted the team’s growing resilience, saying, “I think that is clear. I think also it is clear that when we score first, that helps us to suffer. It’s like more strength.”
On the other side, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment over the defeat, reflecting on the competition he won in 2020. He stated, “It’s unbelievable (we lost). Obviously, you measure the performance and what we did in relation to the position, and you know you deserve to win the game by a mile. I love my players and our team.”
Arteta lamented the need to convert chances, adding, “The ball has to go in the net, and then you have to batter the opponent; that’s the reality.”
In addition to the loss, Arsenal faced the injury of Gabriel Jesus, who was stretchered off in the first half. Arteta commented, “No update, but it’s not looking good. He was in quite a lot of pain and had to come off on a stretcher.”
