Ruben Amorim makes transfer admission after saying Man United ‘lack quality’ defensively

Manchester United were dragged into a wild game against Bournemouth as they drew 4-4 at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Ruben Amorim won’t turn to the transfer market to solve Manchester United’s defensive woes despite admitting that his side “lack quality” defensively after their chaotic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth in the Premier League. United led three times at Old Trafford and produced a vibrant attacking display but they were undone defensively too often.

Amad and Casemiro scored in the first half, but they fell 3-2 behind, when two goals in three minutes from Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha looked to secure victory, only for Junior Kroupi to equalise.

Only Manchester City have scored more goals in the Premier League than United’s 30 this season, but they have shipped 26, a tally only exceeded by the bottom four and Bournemouth, and while Amorim is happy with some elements of United’s defending, he is concerned at their efforts around their own penalty area.

“I think we are pressing better, we are controlling the game better, far from our goal, [but] we are lacking quality when we defend our goal. It’s something that we need to address,” he said.

“I think it’s different when you suffer so many goals and the opponent doesn’t have the same amount or not even near that we create to the opponent. It’s really frustrating, but we need to work a lot in the way we defend the box.”

United spent £215million to improve their attack in the summer, focusing resources on signing attackers. The trio of Bryan Mbeumo, Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were all involved in the fourth goal and they have improved United’s attacking output.

The concerns now lie at the back but despite Amorim’s issues with United’s defending, he doesn’t intend to resort to the chequebook to solve the issues.

“No, I think we have talent in the back, we have quality players in the back, we just need to be better as a team defending,” he said.

“But that is a good point, that at least shows that we took care of the offence, we are improving, but I think it’s not the same situation. We have the characteristics, we just need to work together and improve our players because they have the quality to defend better.”