LONDON: Ruben Amorim credited set-piece routines as key to Manchester United’s 2-1 comeback win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Palace took the lead in the 36th minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a retaken penalty, extending pressure on United after Monday’s 1-0 home defeat to 10-man Everton.
United responded early in the second half as Joshua Zirkzee equalised nine minutes after capitalising on Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick. Mason Mount then fired home the winner in the 63rd minute from a quickly-taken free kick by Fernandes.
It was another away match featuring a set-piece goal for United, following strikes against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham in November.
Amorim said the team had studied popular Premier League routines. “We have more time to work and we work a lot and we are learning… we are stealing a lot of things to score goals,” he said.
The Red Devils manager also pointed to Palace’s fatigue after Thursday’s Conference League trip to Strasbourg. “If you are more alive, you are in more places, near the ball more often… I had the feeling that if we scored one goal, this would change completely,” he said.
Zirkzee, who scored his first league goal in 25 matches, was praised for more than just the goal.
“Even the runs behind… he struggled on duels in the first half but improved in the second. That’s important for him to understand it’s not just the goal,” Amorim added. – AFP
