Amorim: We can beat anybody

Manchester United lost to Arsenal in its opener on Sunday, but Ruben Amorim remained full of optimism and said his rebuilt team can now beat anybody in the Premier League, as the club tries to put last season's woeful 15th-place finish behind it.

Riccardo Calafiori headed home from an early corner to give Arsenal a 1-0 win, with a weak challenge from goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, one of United's few mistakes on an afternoon that sent their fans home from Old Trafford feeling positive.

"We have the players to win any game in the Premier League," said Amorim, flashing a rare smile instead of the scowl he wore for most of last season. "We were more aggressive than last year. We went one against one all the game and we pressed high. We showed quality on the ball."

Close-season signings Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo injected pace and creativity into United's attack, with the ex-Wolves man, who had three shots on target, arguably the best player on the pitch.

"We did a lot of things right," Amorim said. "We were more aggressive and brave. In certain moments, I think Bryan and Cunha helped a lot. We stuck to the plan, even when the stadium was nervous. We continued to play the way we wanted, and that will help us in the future.

" (The fans) want that feeling again: to go to Old Trafford and not be bored. We need to win more than last season, but they want to see something and feel something."

United also looked more composed defensively than last term, but the error from its Turkish keeper raised questions about the position in Amorim's team.

Arsenal's William Saliba backed into Bayindir, who feebly batted the ball with one hand into the path of Italian Calafiori for an easy close-range header.

Amorim said United needed to match Arsenal's physicality on the corner. "If you watch the goal, I think (players) are allowed to do a lot of things during corners. We need to do the same," he said. "But, when you touch the goalkeeper that way, he needs to use his hands to catch the ball, not to push players, or he chooses to push players and let the ball get past.

"But again, (it) is the rules. If he's allowed, we need to do the same thing."

Bayindir was selected ahead of usual starter Andre Onana.

Reuters