Okay, here are the main points from Ruben Amorim's post-match press conference after Manchester United's 5-4 (7-6 on aggregate) victory against Lyon in the Europa League:
Excitement Over the Dramatic Victory:
* Amorim acknowledged it was an unbelievable and dramatic match.
* He expressed his pride in the players' fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude, especially after being 2-4 down in extra time.
* Amorim called the win a "special moment" for the players and the club.
* He mentioned being inspired by Manchester United's 1999 Champions League final comeback after watching a documentary before the game.
Tactical Comments and Substitutions:
* Amorim explained that putting Harry Maguire up front was a tactic to exploit his aerial ability and score with headers.
* He also highlighted Kobbie Mainoo's role, despite recently returning from injury, noting his ability in tight spaces and his winning goal.
* Amorim touched on the players' physical fatigue due to the congested league and European schedule.
* He also clarified that the substitutions of Noussair Mazraoui and Victor Lindelof at halftime were due to family issues.
Mentality and Team Spirit:
* Amorim emphasized that at Old Trafford, "anything is possible" and the team never gives up.
* He hopes this victory can be a catalyst to boost the team's spirit and bring joy to the fans.
* Amorim also made a lighthearted remark about some fans leaving the stadium early before the dramatic comeback.
* He was incredibly impressed with the amazing support from the fans, especially the roar during Mainoo's and Maguire's goals.
Focus on the Europa League:
* Amorim stated that the team's focus is now fully on the Europa League.
* He admitted that Manchester United's Premier League position is not satisfactory and they might give younger players opportunities in the remaining league games to prioritize Europe.
* He acknowledged the challenge in the semi-final against Athletic Bilbao and stressed the importance of luck regarding player injuries.
* Nevertheless, Amorim expressed his belief that Manchester United can win the Europa League, especially with the fans' support.
Individual Players:
* Harry Maguire received special praise for his late winning goal. Amorim even joked about potentially considering him as a forward in the future due to a lack of options.
* Bruno Fernandes was also mentioned as a key player, and Amorim hinted at the need to rest him in league games to keep him fresh for Europe.
Overall, Ruben Amorim's press conference was filled with emotion and relief after the dramatic victory. He commended the team's spirit, the successful tactics, and the incredible support from the fans, while shifting focus to the next challenge in the Europa League.
Excitement Over the Dramatic Victory:
* Amorim acknowledged it was an unbelievable and dramatic match.
* He expressed his pride in the players' fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude, especially after being 2-4 down in extra time.
* Amorim called the win a "special moment" for the players and the club.
* He mentioned being inspired by Manchester United's 1999 Champions League final comeback after watching a documentary before the game.
Tactical Comments and Substitutions:
* Amorim explained that putting Harry Maguire up front was a tactic to exploit his aerial ability and score with headers.
* He also highlighted Kobbie Mainoo's role, despite recently returning from injury, noting his ability in tight spaces and his winning goal.
* Amorim touched on the players' physical fatigue due to the congested league and European schedule.
* He also clarified that the substitutions of Noussair Mazraoui and Victor Lindelof at halftime were due to family issues.
Mentality and Team Spirit:
* Amorim emphasized that at Old Trafford, "anything is possible" and the team never gives up.
* He hopes this victory can be a catalyst to boost the team's spirit and bring joy to the fans.
* Amorim also made a lighthearted remark about some fans leaving the stadium early before the dramatic comeback.
* He was incredibly impressed with the amazing support from the fans, especially the roar during Mainoo's and Maguire's goals.
Focus on the Europa League:
* Amorim stated that the team's focus is now fully on the Europa League.
* He admitted that Manchester United's Premier League position is not satisfactory and they might give younger players opportunities in the remaining league games to prioritize Europe.
* He acknowledged the challenge in the semi-final against Athletic Bilbao and stressed the importance of luck regarding player injuries.
* Nevertheless, Amorim expressed his belief that Manchester United can win the Europa League, especially with the fans' support.
Individual Players:
* Harry Maguire received special praise for his late winning goal. Amorim even joked about potentially considering him as a forward in the future due to a lack of options.
* Bruno Fernandes was also mentioned as a key player, and Amorim hinted at the need to rest him in league games to keep him fresh for Europe.
Overall, Ruben Amorim's press conference was filled with emotion and relief after the dramatic victory. He commended the team's spirit, the successful tactics, and the incredible support from the fans, while shifting focus to the next challenge in the Europa League.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Harun, congratulations. Is that just about the best feeling you've had managing a football team?
00:07It's hard to say, but in here and the sound of the two last goals were amazing.
00:16That is something that we can keep. For the future it was a good feeling, but in the end of the game
00:24you go to the semi-finals, but you need to win it.
00:27If you go to the semi-finals, you don't win it, it's the same feeling.
00:31We just need to focus on the next stage and try to win the competition.
00:364-2 down, it's difficult to keep scoring tonight, but did you genuinely still have that belief
00:42that you could come back or did you think deep down that maybe it was coming?
00:46You think it's hard, but you try to make some changes or try to push the players
00:53and to force yourself to give energy to the players.
00:56In this stadium, in this club, you always have that feeling that anything can happen.
01:02Today was another day like that.
01:05Ruben, is it possible to detach yourself from the kind of chaos that's going on?
01:11I know how you celebrated at the end, but how are you feeling in those moments inside?
01:19What does that feel like as a football manager?
01:22I think that's why we like this sport so much and all the frustration that the coach has in this kind of season.
01:31The frustration, the bad moments. When you have moments like this, it's all worth it.
01:39But then, you finish the game, you calm down and you start thinking that we have a game on Sunday.
01:45And then we have to see all the players, if they are fit to play, because we need to focus a lot on the Europa League.
01:52Hi Ruben, congratulations. I'm sure you would have liked a simple 2-0 win. I think we would write in the reports as well.
01:59How much can that ending fuel you? You obviously are going, the Premier League is important and nowhere near as important as the Europa League.
02:07So, how big can this moment be?
02:10I think these kind of moments can help a lot of players in this kind of season, in this kind of context.
02:19These kind of moments can create some connection between the fans and the players.
02:25And we can forget for a few minutes what kind of season we are having.
02:32But again, today is a good feeling, but tomorrow we need to start everything again.
02:38So, we need to focus on the next game, to focus on the players if they are fit to play.
02:43We have to take a risk to save some players.
02:46Because if you look at our season, the most important thing I think is clear for everybody is Europa League.
02:56Hi Ruben, what did you say to the players at half-time and extra time?
03:01Like, you know, 4-2 down at that stage, so many of them have been thinking, oh, we're done here.
03:08How do you lift a team in that moment?
03:10No, at the half-time in the extra time was to change the positions, to try to be really clear about the position of Harry Maguire,
03:21trying to put Casemiro near the goal, Kobe Mainu near the goal, Mason Mount to cross balls,
03:27and try to explain that we need to score one goal and anything can change.
03:33So, we try to push for the team, but of course it's a difficult moment.
03:36And then you have to be really lucky to change the game, and that's, I think, was the case today.
03:42Do you think we might see Harry Maguire in this kind of position again?
03:46He obviously stepped up to the plate in this crucial moment, but it feels like the squad being brittle like it is,
03:51particularly at the top, we might see this again.
03:54To play a normal game, no.
03:56But in these moments, it's something that is really important.
04:01Again, when I see Harry Maguire and I put Harry Maguire as a striker, I just see one guy that is inside the box.
04:07Is he good or not inside the box? So, in the opposite box, he's a striker, he's not a defender.
04:13He knows how to behave in that space.
04:17So, it's just to put the different characteristics in the different moments.
04:24I play against them in the pre-season with Sporting, so I know a little bit.
04:38Of course, it's a different moment.
04:40We know that they are really technical.
04:43They have two wingers really good.
04:46But we'll have time to assess all the characteristics of the opponent,
04:52and we need to focus a lot on what we need to do until that game.
04:57Because we need to, if you look at the team, especially in some moments in the end of the second half,
05:04the team was really tired.
05:06And you can feel in some players.
05:08And I felt Bruno Fernandes today a little bit tired.
05:11So, I need to be careful even with Bruno in the game before and between the next two games in the Europa League.
05:17I will try to do that.
05:18I will not promise, but I will try.
05:21I will try again.
05:24All rights for the time.
05:26It is coming.
05:30All rights reserved.
05:31And we'll try to do that.
05:35For the first time in the game,
05:38we'll try to improve yourself.
05:39And we'll try to improve yourself.
05:41And we'll try to do it.
05:43And, we'll try to improve yourself.
05:45And keep down below the game.
05:47And I would try to improve yourself.