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Amorim: Man Utd deserved derby joy
Written by Sports Desk. Posted in Football. | 15 December 2024 | 33 Views
Tags: Football
Manchester United left it late to snatch a 2-1 win over rivals Manchester City, and Ruben Amorim believes the victory was wholly deserved.

Ruben Amorim believes Manchester United deserved their dramatic late win over Manchester City as they "believed until the end", channelling "Fergie time".

Josko Gvardiol gave City a first-half lead, but two goals late on from Bruno Fernandes and the excellent Amad Diallo clinched all three points for the Red Devils in Sunday's derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Both teams had 10 shots, with three each on target, though the majority of United's chances came at 1-0 down in an improved second-half performance.

Amorim is just the second boss to beat the reigning Premier League champions with two different sides in a single campaign, after Alan Pardew, also against City, having also won 4-1 over City with Sporting CP in November.

And he suggested United channelled "Fergie time" - coined during the Alex Ferguson years when the Red Devils were renowned for late winners - in their remarkable comeback.

"It was incredible," Amorim told BBC Sport. "I think we deserved it.

"It was a very tough match, but we believe until the end. We managed to score, we needed that win, it was important for us and for our fans.

"We were in the game for 90 minutes and that is very good. We talk about the Arsenal game; we played well in the first half, but they were not believing that we could win. Today was so much more different.

"I also believe. Then we have Fergie time, and we put the things together and something magic happened. It was a good day for us.

"They [the fans] need it. Just like us, but you can see the way they celebrate is special. But we need to continue. Our club needs to win these kinds of matches. I understand the happiness of our fans, but we need to continue.

"With a victory for City, the performance was the same. We need to improve a lot of things, but today the guys deserved the win. They were in it until the last minute and that is important for us."

Amorim's team selection initially dominated much of the pre-match talk as both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were both omitted from the squad.

Diallo stepped up in their absence, continuing his fine run of form as he won the spot-kick for Fernandes' equaliser before grabbing the winner two minutes later.

The 22-year-old's goal was just the seventh 90th-minute winner scored against the reigning Premier League champions, and the second netted by a United player (after Robin van Persie v Man City in December 2012).

Amorim, though, urged fans to have patience with the youngster.

"He can play different positions, he is very humble," Amorim said of Diallo.

"We have to be very careful with Amad because sometimes in our club we put young players in a special place. Let's stay calm with Amad."

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