Ruben Amorim rejected players' day off request after Manchester United victory vs Fulham
Ruben Amorim rejected Manchester United players' request for a day off after beating Fulham.
Amorim will celebrate his 40th birthday on Monday and Lisandro Martinez provided him with an early birthday gift by breaking the deadlock against Fulham on Sunday evening.
Martinez tried his luck from the edge of the box and his shot deflected into the back of the net after striking Sasa Lukic, which was enough to secure a scrappy 1-0 victory in London.
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Amorim spoke to MUTV after the final whistle against Fulham and was asked about his plans for his 40th birthday. United's head coach revealed he'd rejected the players' request for a day off and explained he wanted to help the players who didn't start by coaching them in training.
"They asked for the day off tomorrow," laughed Amorim. "I didn't give it, so we are training tomorrow because it's my birthday and my gift is to work with the guys who didn't play.
"We need to work to improve all the players. It will be a fantastic day because we won and I'm going to do what I love in our club. Then, in the end, I will have dinner with my kids."
On the day after a game, those who make United's starting team will recover at Carrington and the players who started on the bench will take part in a 'normal' training session.
Amorim confirmed he would oversee that session, and joked in a separate interview that spending two months in Manchester made him feel like he was about to turn 50.
"After two months at Manchester United, it's 50! It's a privilege to spend my 40th birthday here," he said.
United's matchwinner, Martinez, also spoke to MUTV and said: "Fighting until the end, until the last seconds, I saw a really good connection with the team and with every player, especially the players on the bench. I'm so happy for this victory. When you score and when you win, the emotion and passion is so big, celebrating with the fans. Their support is incredible and they deserve this win
"In this league, you have to give everything, more than 100 per cent. You have to put standards. We are connecting well with each other and that's the way you have to choose always."
