'I can step up' - what Ruben Amorim said about Manchester United squad that got a reaction
Ruben Amorim said his Manchester United squad was "starving for leaders" on Friday, but on Sunday he got the reaction he wanted as his players stepped up to the plate for their most difficult assignment of the season.
Amorim had questioned the leadership in his squad during his press conference ahead of the Liverpool game and suggested that his team were 'anxious and afraid' on the pitch because they lacked leaders.
In hindsight, those comments might be seen as a call to arms and it was notable how many of his players responded at Anfield, with United turning in their best performance under Amorim but also their most combative and aggressive. Bruno Fernandes led from the front in terms of attitude and application, while Harry Maguire was a vocal presence at the back.
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But Amorim wants more leaders to emerge and Diogo Dalot is now looking to try and fulfill that role. He caused Trent Alexander-Arnold plenty of problems from his left wing-back position, but constantly encouraged and cajoled his teammates during the 2-2 draw.
Dalot is only 25 but he is into his seventh season at Old Trafford and he admitted Amorim's comments hit a nerve with him, and that he is determined to respond and offer more support, both on the pitch and behind the scenes.
"It pinched me. I think that's what he wanted for every player," Dalot said of his head coach's comments. "I've been here for a while. I know that I can step up a little bit more as well in that level and I'm going to try to help my teammates for as long as I can.
"As long as I'm on the pitch and outside the pitch, I will try to help them. You could see that we were more a team. That was the biggest difference."
Amorim's comments on Friday came as he talked about triggering the one-year extension in Maguire's contract, demanding that the centre-back also improve his leadership on the pitch.
"He has to improve as a leader. We all know the situation that he had here but we need him a lot in this moment, so we are going to trigger, happily, the option for him," he said.
"When you look at our team we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader, he has to improve that part, he has to improve his game, so we are happy to continue."
