Two Manchester United stars are ‘making it hard to keep the ball’, Rúben Amorim agrees

Rúben Amorim has agreed as former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves highlights a problem area surrounding two players at Old Trafford.

Manchester United suffered their first defeat of 2025 as Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a commanding 3-1 performance at Old Trafford, outmanoeuvring Rúben Amorim’s side on Sunday afternoon.

The match began disastrously for United, with Brighton taking the lead just five minutes in through Yankuba Minteh, capitalising on a disorganised United defence. Despite struggling to settle, United found a way back into the game when Joshua Zirkzee won a penalty in the 20th minute, which Bruno Fernandes dispatched with his usual composure to level the score.

Brighton thought they had regained the lead early in the second half when João Pedro found the net, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal after a foul on Diogo Dalot in the build-up. Undeterred, Brighton continued to press and were rewarded on the hour mark, as Kaoru Mitoma expertly slotted home to restore their lead.

The visitors put the game beyond doubt in the 75th minute, courtesy of a costly error from André Onana. The United goalkeeper failed to hold onto the ball, spilling it straight into the path of substitute Georginio Rutter, who calmly tapped in Brighton’s third.

United pressed in vain for a way back, but Brighton’s disciplined and organised display ensured there was no late drama, securing a well-deserved win for the Seagulls and leaving United to reflect on a performance well below their standards.

Two players making it hard for United to play

Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves was on duty with Premier League Productions to analyse result, and he has pinpointed Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte as a potential problem.

Hargreaves explained that he feels Amorim only having those two players in the middle is stopping United from being able to progress the ball properly.

“I think they struggle to keep the ball with this formation sometimes, you know, I think to progress it between the lines because there’s only two central midfield players,” he explained.

“I think it’s hard to keep it, you know, so you’re relying on individual moments like, you know, from Amad to kind of get you out of trouble, but defensively, you know, they don’t look great.”

Amorim agrees with Hargreaves’ point

There is little doubt that Hargreaves’ point is one that the 39-year-old agreed with on Sunday evening, as Ugarte and Mainoo were both taken off by Amorim after 64 minutes.

With the side 2-1 down at the time, United looked a little better, although they ultimately failed to claw their way back,

Read More: 75 touches, 45 passes – Manchester United star was doing “everything on his own” vs Brighton as ex-player in shock

Speaking to MUTV after the result, Amorim also agreed that those responsible are not putting the ball in between the lines like they should.

“We try to have possession, control the ball, but the players are anxious,” he explained. “No putting the ball between the lines, always a touch. This is not acceptable.”

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