Ruben Amorim bemoaned Manchester United’s toothless attack as Nottingham Forest completed a Premier League double over his side and reiterated he is under pressure to ensure his team “get it right fast”.
Forest enhanced their chances of qualifying for the Champions League with a third successive league win, courtesy of an extraordinary counterattack goal by the former United forward Anthony Elanga, while United are 13th and yet to record back-to-back wins in the division this season.
Related: Electric Elanga haunts Manchester United with Nottingham Forest winner
Diogo Dalot sent a first-half header against the crossbar but the centre-back Harry Maguire, utilised as an emergency striker after entering as an 88th-minute substitute, went closest to an equaliser deep in stoppage time. Maguire, who earlier headed a Patrick Dorgu cross wide, steered a shot goalwards only for the Forest defender Murillo to make a goal-saving clearance on the line.
Amorim acknowledged United “had a lack of quality in the final third” but defended Maguire appearing more threatening than Rasmus Højlund, who entered at half-time in place of Manuel Ugarte, and Joshua Zirkzee, who were signed for a combined cost of more than £100m, but failed to trouble Forest.
“In the end of the game when the opponent is just protecting the box with a line of six we can reach the final third but then we have to put the ball inside the box,” the United head coach said. “Harry Maguire when he is attacking at set pieces is maybe the best player in our team, so inside the box you are not a defender but a striker. That was the idea to put one man that is really good at that to score a goal.”
Asked if it was concerning that Maguire fashioned United’s best chances, Amorim replied: “It depends on the characteristics of the game. Nottingham were playing with a low block with a line of six and then it’s also a matter of size, and the way that you have the ability to head a ball. That can happen with any team with the best strikers in the world. The defenders sometimes are the best ones to attack a goal inside the box. Harry is really good at that.”
Elanga, who spent nine years at United, scored the only goal in the fifth minute after carrying the ball about 85m after the Forest captain, Ryan Yates, cleared a Bruno Fernandes cross.
“Sometimes you don’t have time and you should have time for these kids to develop,” Amorim said when asked about Elanga’s time at United. “I will not have the time. We have to get it right, fast.”
