Ruben Amorim expressed pride in his Manchester United players despite their narrow defeat to Arsenal on the opening day of the Premier League season.
United’s long-standing weakness at defending set-pieces resurfaced when Ricardo Calafiori rose highest to head home in the 13th minute, a goal that ultimately separated both sides.
Although the Red Devils dominated large spells of the game, they couldn’t convert their superiority into goals.
The loss extended their winless run against Arsenal to six matches, with five defeats and one draw in that period.
“It was a very good performance,” Amorim told United’s official website after the match.
“I’m really proud of the players but, in the end, we lost the game. But again, for me, you can win and you can lose in the end, but I am proud of what they did, my players. It’s a good feeling. At the same time, it’s really hard to lose a game like this.
“We were more aggressive than last year. We sprint more. We were more brave. We let one against one all the game. We pressed high. And then with the ball, we have quality. Even when the stadium makes some sounds, we continue to play the way we play.”
The Portuguese tactician also highlighted improvements in possession, while noting the spark brought by his attacking players.
He added: “We lost fewer balls in the build-up, compared to last year, was [where] we struggled a lot. And then the small things that we talk about in the beginning of this season, that players like [Matheus] Cunha, like Bryan [Mbeumo], in one moment can elevate the stadium. So, I think the most important thing, we were not boring.”
