Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth: Ruben Amorim’s side humbled by the flying Cherries as Dean Hujsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo all netted in a dominant display
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Bournemouth thrashed Manchester United 3-0 to heap further problems upon Ruben Amorim as Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo scored in a dominant Cherries win.
The result means Bournemouth climb to fifth in the Premier League standings, while United are languishing in 13th and will welcome Christmas in the bottom half of the table for the first time since the 1989-90 campaign.
Marcus Rashford was once again absent from the Red Devils squad as Amorim continues to freeze out the England forward after his explosive interview claiming he was “ready for a new challenge” and suggesting he wants to leave Old Trafford.
Rashford has now missed this defeat, last weekend’s Manchester derby and the chaotic midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham.
Relive all the action from Old Trafford with our live blog below:
Manchester United vs BournemouthPremier League
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United staggered into Christmas on the back of a chastening 3-0 home loss to an impressive Bournemouth side that now are up to fifth in the Premier League standings.
A year after securing their first ever victory at Old Trafford, Andoni Iraola’s Cherries triumphed by the same scoreline as they inflicted the biggest blow of the Portuguese head coach’s short reign.
Dean Huijsen became the latest player to capitalise on United’s lax set piece defending, before a Justin Kluivert penalty and Antoine Semenyo strike sealed a stunning win that brought boos from the home fans at full-time.
Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth: Amorim’s left Marcus Rashford out of the squad again but watched his side dominated by the flying Cherries
Lisandro Martinez was the United player who spoke to the BBC after the match, and he had this to say.
“I always say in this kind of situation we have to show personality and character. We are playing so well and unfortunately, we couldn’t score today. We have to believe. At this club, we have to win every game and we know that.
“We are so angry with this kind of situation. We have to work on set-pieces especially. I believe a lot in this team and staff. if they don’t score their first goal from set-pieces then it is a totally different game. We missed many chances today. We have to score. We know what we have to do and we have to change quickly.
“We know how big it is at this club. The expectation is very high, it’s a process and you can see we are playing so well but we also concede goals and we have to work on that. I know the fans are impatient with us. We are the only ones who can change it.
“It’s football and we have to accept it. We are 100% confident that we will get success in this club. It’s a process, I don’t want to point the finger at one player. We win together, we lose together. It is a big pressure but we love that. I believe a lot in this group.”
Justin Kluivert spoke to the media after the match, calling the result “a massive win”.
“Back-to-back winning here at this beautiful stadium is amazing. It’s unreal. We’ve been working hard and we were building last year. It’s amazing with this coach.
On scoring in last 10 games: “It’s our philosophy, it’s what the manager wants from us and that’s why we score every game. We need to keep cruising like this. There’s always something after a goal so you have to be sharp and we scored the second.
“Up the Cherries, happy Christmas!”
Cherries boss Iraola said it was an “important win” for his side.
“We won 3-0 but it was more difficult than it looks when you see 3-0. I think we’ve been quite solid, it was a mature performance. Kepa’s performance has helped us this year.
“He Kepa has been very good in possession and with positions. I think he is confident and in a very young defensive line, we need players with experience.
“I am happy that we were more clinical today. We scored from a set play. I think it was a solid performance. Not amazing, but it was solid. We kept playing the same way and pushing until the end. After half-time we regrouped and we were better in the second half.
“I value the 28 points. I think the amount of points we have is good. At Christmas, it is a good amount.”
Ruben Amorim reacted to the game by saying that it was “hard on” United.
“It’s hard to push for two, three wins and we are trying. This game was hard on us. We suffered again on set-pieces and we were a bit nervous, I felt it in the stadium. The penalty and another goal are really hard here. We tried to score some goals but it was a tough match so let’s move on.
“If you look at the game, we were not conceding anything before the first goal, we had opportunities. If we manage to score the first goal then the game should be different. We want to score but we are too nervous. We have to fight this.
“After the penalty, we need to control the game better because we know this situation is really hard. We have to control better this moment.
“We have to focus on the job and not what you feel in the stadium. It’s the only way I know how to focus my players. We have to suffer again but we will try to win. We will do it until the end.”
A sobering afternoon for United after the derby win last weekend, but there was very little, if anything, encouraging about that performance.
For Bournemouth, they move into fifth at Christmas! That position could well win a place in the Champions League come the end of the season.
That result means United go into Christmas in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 1989/90.
Bournemouth move into fifth, above Villa on goal difference!
95 mins
FULL-TIME! Boos around Old Trafford as the referee brings the match to an end.
What win for the away side though, as they move up to fifth!
94 mins
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