Eddie Howe speaks after schooling Ruben Amorim in quality Old Trafford display that blew Man U away

The Mag

·1 janvier 2025

Eddie Howe speaks after schooling Ruben Amorim in quality Old Trafford display that blew Man U away

At Old Trafford on Monday night, Eddie Howe absolutely schooled Ruben Amorim.

The way the two teams were set up, a class apart.

Vidéos OneFootball

Not just the chasm in quality and commitment of the players for Newcastle United and Manchester United.

Also, the levels above that Eddie Howe showed Ruben Amorim, in terms of his game plan, tactics, team selection and so on.

Newcastle United should have been four or five up by the break and Manchester United (and Ruben Amorim) very very lucky that this wasn’t the case.

Eddie Howe reflecting on Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 2 at Old Trafford:

“I think for half an hour of that first half, it was probably as good as we have been.

“Every game is different and the challenge is always difficult.

“So even at 2-0, you need the third goal… and we didn’t get it.

“We had chances to grab it and then that second half is on a knife-edge.

“If they [Man U] score, then the game can change quickly.

“I thought we showed good maturity.

“We didn’t play to the heights we did in the first half but we were still effective and saw the game out well.”

Eddie Howe asked if this performance and win was one of his biggest NUFC high points (so far):

“I think it is right up there.

“We know the hurt that this fixture has caused for us historically.

“It wasn’t lost on us.

“We didn’t necessarily use that with the players but psychologically that was a big step forward for us.

“I think we need to win games like this on a regular basis to achieve what we want.

“Sometimes, you need to do it, to believe you can do it.

“I thought we managed the game really well.

“I was delighted with the team.

“I think we knew that early season, our form was patchy.

“We weren’t at the levels that we know individually and collectively, we needed to be.

“It was frustrating for all of us, because we were waiting to hit the ground running and we were determined to try and do it, but for whatever reason, we couldn’t find the missing ingredients that transformed our performances to where they needed to be.

“We still picked up points, valuable points, but I think now we are seeing in the last group of games, the team return to the level that we know we can be.

“Now the challenge is to try and stay there, which of course is very difficult to do.

“We gave ourselves mountains to climb at times [early in the season, when conceding goals in matches], particularly on the road, and it is great to reverse it these last few games.

“Those goals have helped with momentum and confidence and from that point we have never looked back.”

Eddie Howe on Alexander The Great:

“Alexander Isak has been really, really good.

“His all round game is really strong.

“He can do a bit of everything.

“Most importantly he needs to be in the right place at the right time to score goals.

“Early in the match it was a great cross from Lewis Hall and Alex was there with the header.”

Eddie Howe on the other end of the pitch:

“Really pleased for Martin Dubravka and the back line, the whole team really, for the clean sheet.

“Historically, we have prided ourselves on being strong defensively and it is great to see us returning to that.

“Confidence is the ultimate thing that makes the difference.

“The players are playing in their best positions and look happy and comfortable and our injury record has also improved from last year.”