Ruben Amorim praised “working machine” Bryan Mbeumo, who scored twice, and pointed to the significance of a third consecutive league win after Manchester United’s 4-2 victory over Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday.
First-half goals from Matheus Cunha and Casemiro were followed after the break by Mbeumo making it 3-0. Yet from cruising United suffered a scare as Danny Welbeck and Charalampos Kostoulas scored – the latter in added time before Mbeumo’s second close to the final whistle.
Amorim was asked about Mbeumo’s import and his role in recruiting him in the summer. “He’s a working machine. He’s so good in transitions. He’s improving when we are organising the final third,” said the head coach, before praising his connection with Amad Diallo at right wing-back. “[It] is really hard to beat these two guys because they change positions, they are really fast, they are good in one against one.
“My role was as a manager to explain what I want from him but it was more the club and you guys. We can struggle a lot but it’s Manchester United. When Manchester United is there and when we feel that this player wants to come here, no matter what, no matter what the position, no matter if it’s Champions League or not, we also give everything to bring these kind of guys and that was the case.”
United moved up to fourth, thanks to Liverpool losing at Brentford. Amorim was asked about the club managing a third consecutive Premier League win in the same season for the first time since February 2024. “Was really important – also the performance,” he said. “We suffered a little bit in the end but it would not be Manchester United without suffering a little bit. But I think we deserved the win against a very, very good team. I think they [his players] are more confident.”
Of Cunha’s first United goal, Amorim said: “I think you can feel that [he wanted it]. I really like the way he defends today. Today he defended really well and when he has the ball it’s not my concern.”
Fabian Hürzeler, meanwhile, was asked about Luke Shaw fouling Georginio Rutter in the buildup to United’s third goal. “I will never make the referee responsible for our defeats,” said Brighton’s manager. “We have to make it better ourselves.
“It is easy to summarise this game, too many mistakes on our side, we gave the balls too easy away, overall we had the control of the game, we have good actions, we always were a danger in their half and in their box but if you do too easy mistakes and give four presents [for the goals]you can’t win a game.”
