MANCHESTER, England — Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese coach of Manchester United, recently expressed concerns about his team’s lack of momentum, describing their performance as “one step forward, one step back.” However, after securing victories over Brighton, Sunderland, and Liverpool, his outlook has changed. With Bryan Mbeumo scoring twice and Matheus Cunha and Casemiro contributing one each, United triumphed with a 4-2 win, marking three consecutive victories.
United’s journey has never been simple, and Amorim had to endure a nerve-wracking moment as Brighton clawed back to 3-2. However, Mbeumo’s second goal in stoppage time eased the pressure, granting United their first winning streak in the Premier League since February 2024.
“The result was crucial, and so was the performance,” Amorim remarked post-match. “We had to adapt our play based on different phases of the game. Although we experienced some tension towards the end, it wouldn’t be Manchester United without a bit of drama. We deserved this win against a very strong team.”
Amorim had faced criticism over his coaching abilities following a rocky start at United, but he executed a solid strategy against Liverpool last weekend and did so again against Brighton. With Brighton’s forwards Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck dropping back to assist in midfield, Amorim instructed defenders Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt to track their movements. This bold tactic created opportunities, despite occasionally exposing gaps.
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Matheus Cunha opened the scoring with his first goal since joining from Wolves, and when Brighton attempted to play it out from the back, Shaw intercepted the ball near Rutter. Casemiro then capitalized by scoring from outside the box, benefitting from a fortunate deflection off Yasin Ayari. Though some luck was involved, it highlighted the effectiveness of Amorim’s game plan.
His tactical acumen shone through, with Amorim explaining, “When we have Harry Maguire, we can defend the box more effectively and adopt a lower line. However, with players like [Matthijs de Ligt] and Luke Shaw, we can afford to push higher up.”
This moment marked a turning point not only for Amorim’s tactics but also for CEO Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and the recruitment team. Last season, a significant deficit in goals prompted United to strengthen their squad by acquiring Cunha, Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. Cunha delivered a standout performance at Anfield and landed his first goal here with an impressive finish—something that would have been missed last season.
After Casemiro’s fortunate goal put United up 2-0, Mbeumo added another, shooting low through a defender’s legs into the corner. The match should have been sealed, but after Casemiro was substituted to rest, Brighton surged forward, scoring twice with a brilliant free kick from Welbeck and a header from Charalampos Kostoulas. Only Mbeumo’s late goal ensured United’s precious momentum.
“Winning the ball high allows our attacking players to be positioned in front of the goal, and their skill means they only need one chance,” Amorim stated.
When asked about the main difference between Amorim’s current team and the one that lost to Brighton at Old Trafford in January, manager Fabian Hurzeler commended United’s pressing style and the influence of Amorim’s new signings. “They applied a much more intense and compact press in the first half,” he noted. “The individual quality has greatly improved, proving that the investment made was worthwhile.”
Historically, United has struggled in matches against mid-tier teams since Amorim took the helm, only managing victories over newly-promoted sides and the bigger clubs, including wins against Everton, Fulham, and Aston Villa. With this win over Brighton, Amorim can now take pride in defeating another competing team, offering a different kind of satisfaction than the triumph at Anfield.
“Today felt like a more complete performance,” Amorim reflected. “You could argue that Liverpool didn’t deserve to lose, but we definitely earned our victory. Today, we showcased a little bit of everything: we controlled the ball, created chances, and employed high and low defensive setups. It felt more well-rounded.”
With the final whistle, United climbed into the top four for the first time in Amorim’s tenure, marking a significant turning point in their season. Finally, momentum seems to be on their side.