Amrabat spoke to the media after United’s 2-1 win against Chelsea. The Fiorentina loanee produced an impressive performance in the middle of the park that helped get his side over the line.

A double from Scott McTominay was enough to secure the win for the Red Devils against Mauricio Pochettino’s men at Old Trafford.

After United’s loss at the hands of Newcastle last week, reports started coming out that Ten Hag had lost a section of the dressing room with some players growing disillusioned with his tactics and methods.

The Dutchman was quick to refute such claims and this has now been backed by Amrabat.

The Moroccan spoke to beIN SPORTS and gave his verdict on the match vs. Chelsea including what he and his teammates truly think about Ten Hag.

He said about the manager, “He’s one of the best in the world. He’s a fantastic coach and we are all behind him.”

Amrabat praised McTominay for getting on the score sheet. “He played a very good game. He scored two goals. He didn’t want to score a hat-trick, just two, We won 2-1 and that is the most important thing.”

“We started very well. I think the whole game was good. We played very well and had a lot of confidence. We had a very good reaction.”

“I am very happy. We played attractive football, attacking football with a lot of pressing. The only negative is we need to score more goals but we won which is the most important thing.”

The 27-year-old opened up on his difficult start to life in the Premier League and admitted that this was occasioned by not having pre-season due to injury but he now feels stronger and is steadily adapting to the demands of English football.

He added, “I started [the season] with an injury and normally you need some time to adapt. But there was no time, the team needed me, so I had to jump in immediately and I’m a fighter, I will never say no when the manager needs me.”

"He's one of the best in the world. He's a fantastic coach and we are all behind him."

Moroccan international Sofyan Amrabat quashes the rumours at Old Trafford after Man Utd's 2-1 win over Chelsea.#beINPL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/1YgktAsQoy

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 6, 2023

Up next for United is yet another home game against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The post “We’re all behind him”: Sofyan Amrabat reveals Man United squad’s stance on Erik ten Hag after win vs. Chelsea appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

A sensational Scott McTominay brace in either half was enough to ensure United got back to winning ways in the Premier League and relieve some of the pressure that was mounting on Erik ten Hag and his players.

United only had 44% of the ball to Chelsea’s 56% possession.

Ten Hag’s men registered nine shots on target from their total 28 cracks at goal. In comparison, Chelsea had 13 total shots but only three of those required Andre Onana to swing into action.

United put together 388 passes with a success rate of 85%.

Chelsea strung 508 passes with a pass accuracy of 86%.

Crucial to the Red Devils’ success against the Blues was Sofyan Amrabat. He started as his side’s deepest-lying midfielder in a trio also consisting of McTominay and Bruno Fernandes.

Against Chelsea’s big-money midfield, Amrabat bossed the middle of the park and was vital in putting out whatever little threat Mauricio Pochettino’s stars posed.

During the 90 minutes he was on the pitch, the Moroccan had 61 touches of the ball to his name.

He successfully delivered 45 of the 49 passes he attempted, amassing a personal pass accuracy of 92%.

The Fiorentina loanee made one key pass. Amrabat embarked on two dribbles and came out on top in both instances.

He delved into seven ground duels and won five of them. The 27-year-old was not required to contest any challenges aerially.

Amrabat also had three tackles to his name.

(Stats obtained from Sofascore)

Certainly, Amrabat has put himself in contention to be included in the starting XI once more when United take on Bournemouth on Saturday.

The post Sofyan Amrabat bosses the midfield as Manchester United beat Chelsea in 2-1 win appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Heading into the game, United were bottom of Group A, with just three points after four matches. The team needed to win in order to give itself the best possible chance of advancing to the next round of the competition.

Erik ten Hag made four changes from the starting XI against Everton on Sunday.

Andre Onana started in goal with a defensive four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw ahead of the shot-stopper.

Sofyan Amrabat started as United’s deepest-lying midfielder in a trio also consisting of Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes.

Rasmus Hojlund led the line with Alejandro Garnacho and Antony on either side of him. Here are four things we learned from Manchester United’s 3-3 draw against Galatasaray.

Amrabat simply not the answer

There was a lot of speculation with regard to whether Kobbie Mainoo would start against Galatasaray.

The young midfielder was sensational at Goodison Park on Sunday and earned himself a lot of plaudits for his calm, composed and impressive performance in the middle of the park.

United legend Rio Ferdinand recently suggested that going forward, it’s imperative that Mainoo keep his place in the team ahead of Amrabat.

However, Ten Hag decided to give the nod to Amrabat ahead of Mainoo, but the decision did not really bear much fruit.

Amrabat was uninspiring and simply did not do anything impactful. He did not put his mark on the game and the result was that rival players easily cut through United’s midfield.

The Moroccan was not helped by McTominay, who has seemingly developed a habit of becoming anonymous and barely noticeable during games.

Amrabat at times seemed lost like a deer in headlights. Compare the Fiorentina loanee’s display to Mainoo’s at Goodison and it’s pretty obvious who deserves a guaranteed starting berth going forward.

The 27-year-old struggled to control proceedings or even offer the kind of defensive solidity usually provided by the no-nonsense Casemiro.

Amrabat was taken off just before the hour mark and Mainoo was brought in to replace him. Hardly anyone would have argued against the change.

His loan spell has so far been underwhelming and it’s easy to see why there is already talk of United looking beyond him and signing another number six.

Amrabat is not the answer and this was clearly evident against Okan Buruk’s men.

Garnacho steadily growing into his role as a regular starter

United got off to a fairytale start in the first half. Fresh off his stunning bicycle kick just a few days ago and with Marcus Rashford suspended, Garnacho’s inclusion on the team sheet was almost certain – the Argentine did not disappoint.

He shed first blood when he opened the scoring.

Garnacho got on the end of a pass inside the box from Fernandes. Many would have predicted that he would try to shift the ball onto his right foot but impressively, he chose to strike it with his left.

The 18-year-old fired the ball into the roof of the net and gave Fernando Muslera no chance of keeping the effort out.

United would go on to add a second of the match through Fernandes but Galatasaray pulled one back through Hakim Ziyech.

The Red Devils went into the break a goal up. They came out firing and performed much better by way of how they ensured the game was played at their preferred tempo.

United got their reward in the 55th minute when McTominay grabbed a third goal. Ziyech however got his brace just seven minutes later to still keep his side in the game. Galatasaray eventually managed to clinch an equalizer through Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu.

Garnacho was a threat all game and was a constant headache for Sacha Boey. He in fact got the Galatasaray full-back booked.

Defensively, Garnacho was top-notch. Whenever required to track back and contribute to keeping the ball out of Onana’s net, the Carrington academy graduate diligently executed his responsibilities.

He also put in one or two good crosses for Hojlund. The biggest compliment that can be paid to Garnacho and his brilliance is that everything United did attacking-wise came from his flank. If United were to hurt Galatasaray, it would likely come through Garnacho.

In recent games, Garnacho has started on the left with Rashford required to ply his trade on the right. Whenever given the chance, he has come up with the goods.

It was a bit puzzling that the Argentina international, who was United’s main source of threat, was taken off when United were searching for a fourth goal that could have been the winner.

His replacement, Facundo Pellistri had multiple clear-cut chances to score but could not make one stick.

If there were any doubts regarding whether Garnacho could make the jump from being an impact substitute to a starter, those concerns are slowly being abated.

The hope is that he can continue growing in confidence and stature and really show what he can do in a United shirt. He definitely has the talent and potential.

Onana howlers

Most of United’s good work was undone by huge blunders from goalkeeper Andre Onana.

For Ziyech’s first goal, Onana was caught flat-footed from the free-kick effort. He initially moved in the wrong direction and when he realised the ball was moving to the other side, could not react first enough to stop it.

Ziyech’s second goal was also from a free-kick but this time, Onana got a weak hand to it, only to mishandle the ball and send it to the back of his own net.

There’s not much the United goalkeeper could do about Galatasaray’s third and equalising goal.

As a result of his two costly mistakes at Rams Park, Onana is now the goalkeeper who has made the most errors leading to opposition goals in the Champions League since 2018/19, with seven.

Most errors leading to opposition goals by goalkeepers in the UEFA Champions League since 2018-19:

7 – André Onana (44 apps)
6 –
5 –
4 –
3 – Manuel Neuer (41 apps), Gerónimo Rulli (12 apps) pic.twitter.com/oUeSYP1cS9

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 29, 2023

He has had many high-profile howlers this term and the pressure is now back on the Cameroonian due to his awful performance vs. Galatasaray.

United’s Champions League hopes almost certainly over now

Due to the draw, United’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Champions League are almost over now.

Ten Hag’s players will have to beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford and hope that results elsewhere go their way.

United were two goals up twice and there will certainly be disappointment at how the game eventually panned out.

The post Four things we learned from Manchester United’s enthralling 3-3 draw vs. Galatasaray appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Nearly three months into the season, that still holds true, just not in the way many expected.

Evans has risen from the ashes to become arguably the second-choice defender for Erik ten Hag before injury, while Amrabat has had a nightmare start to his spell.

Reguilon has been pretty much a non-factor due to constant injury issues and is not likely to play much now that Luke Shaw is back.

While Reguilon was always a short-term buy, the only reason Amrabat didn’t arrive on permanent terms was because of United’s financial paucity.

However, they would be thanking their lucky stars right now that the move was only a loan.

The Guardian reports that doubts have been raised internally about Amrabat’s performances since joining the club after a protracted pursuit from Fiorentina on loan.

The Moroccan started off well in his first two games, as a left-back before he was quickly found out by the pace of the league.

His play always looks a step behind the pace of the game, and he is regularly caught on the ball, or forced to play rushed passes in the face of a fierce press.

Such has been his predicament now that he can’t even make the first XI despite injuries to Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Mason Mount.

With Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence after his masterful debut league start and Scott McTominay’s goal threat preferred by the manager, Amrabat’s situation is not likely to change anytime soon.

Fans were up in arms when Amrabat was signed only on loan.

Now, it looks like financial worries saved the club from itself from having another dud on its books for the next four to five years.

The post Manchester United concerned about Sofyan Amrabat’s poor form at the club appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

When Casemiro was signed last summer and played a brilliant season, it looked like the void was filled but this year, the issues have arisen again.

Between the Brazilian’s dip in form, Sofyan Amrabat struggling with the rigours of the Premier League, and Christian Eriksen not suited in a defensive role, the place was up for grabs.

It was, indeed, grabbed by Kobbie Mainoo in a masterful performance on his debut league start against Everton.

Talking post-match, Erik ten Hag announced that Mainoo’s skillset is exactly what he expects from his No. 6 (Defensive midfielder).

He said leading the buildup and possession phase is a requirement for his No. 6, which Mainoo was “very mature” in doing.

“Very mature. Getting the ball and making the right decisions. Leading our build-up, leading our possession. That is what we expect from our no.6 there…,” he said.

While this statement will be music to the ears of Mainoo, it is also one of the rare times that Ten Hag has revealed a layer of what his ideal team should be.

This statement confirms why he relentlessly pushed for Frenkie de Jong’s transfer last summer, as taking the ball from the defenders on the half-turn and progressing play is his major quality.

It is not exactly a ringing endorsement for the skillset of Casemiro and Amrabat, who are defence-first midfielders with less emphasis on technical and possession skills.

There was a feeling among fans last summer that despite Casemiro’s brilliant performances, he wasn’t the first-choice for the manager, as evidenced by the late dash United made for him, only after failing to agree a deal for De Jong.

However, with that in the background and Mainoo emerging as a quality prospect, Ten Hag might have finally found an in-house solution to a longstanding problem of his.

The post Erik ten Hag declares Kobbie Mainoo as his ideal profile of a defensive midfielder appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Sofyan Amrabat won his 50th cap for Morocco in a 2-0 win over Tanzania on Tuesday.

The defensive midfielder is now 12th on Morocco’s all time appearance list and only 24 caps away from reaching second place on the list. He still has some considerable work to do to reach Nourredine Naybet’s record of 93 caps, however. Although at only 27 years old, the United number four may fancy his chances.

The North African side were supposed to begin their World Cup qualification campaign against Eritrea on Thursday 16th November. However, the game was cancelled due to fears that Eritrean players “would attempt to seek political asylum during trips abroad”, due to the oppressive regime which currently governs the nation.

Nonetheless, the Moroccans got off to a perfect start by winning in Tanzania and currently top group E after the opening round of fixtures.

It was a special match for Amrabat as he won his 50th cap for the World Cup semi-finalists.

The Atlas Lions were convincing winners of the match through goals by Hakim Ziyech in the 28th minute and an own goal by Tanzania in the second half.

Amrabat himself played at the base of a midfield three, being tasked to shield the back four and be a playmaker from the back, as he so often does for his national side.

The midfielder played the whole 90 minutes and received a yellow card in the 65th minute. The North Africans had a horrendous start as Achraf Hakimi missed a penalty in only the third minute of play. This didn’t deter Morocco though and they scored two unanswered goals before Tanzanian defender, Novatus Miroshi, was sent off in the 65th minute to make the job even easier for Amrabat’s team.

The Fiorentina player, who is currently on loan at Manchester United, has had a rough start to his career at the club. The midfielder has struggled to nail down a starting role due to a combination of being played out of position, niggling injuries and poor form on his part.

It was even reported by The Peoples Person that United have already decided they are unlikely to pick up the option to sign him at the end of the season due to his inconsistent form.

This is in stark contrast to the Moroccan midfielder’s usual displays for his country. The player was instrumental in his nation reaching the final four of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Sofascore credited him with a 7.3 rating in their highly impressive win versus Brazil in March this year.

The man from Huizen, played the full 90 minutes with a jaw-dropping 91% pass rate accuracy. He also had five tackles, two blocked shots and two interceptions in a great defensive display.

The Moroccan will hope there is a way he can convince Erik ten Hag to include him more frequently in the Red Devils’ starting line-up and somehow transfer his form for his national team to the Premier League side. He will need to if he is to continue to live his “dream” of playing at Old Trafford beyond this season.

The post Sofyan Amrabat wins 50th cap for Morocco in comfortable victory appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

His initial plan saw new signing Mason Mount accompany Casemiro but the former Chelsea star far too often wandered into advanced zones, leaving space for the opposition to exploit.

The manager was forced to change his lineup and accommodated Christian Eriksen alongside the Brazilian. The combination that worked so well for the Red Devils last season did not quite click in the big away games due to the duo’s lack of pace.

Amrabat has struggled since his arrival

With the former Real Madrid superstar’s form this term being a major headache, the Dutchman brought in Sofyan Amrabat on an initial loan deal from Fiorentina on deadline day.

The five-time Champions League winner’s injury finally handed the Moroccan the chance to play in his preferred position after a few initial appearances as a left full-back.

However, the 27-year-old has not managed to fill the void left by the Brazilian midfield general and he has generally underwhelmed when played there.

Amrabat has been substituted at half-time in his last three appearances across all competitions while he remained an unused substitute in United’s last two Premier League games before the international week.

United’s loan arrangement with Fiorentina included an initial €10 million loan fee while United will have to pay €20 million at the end of the season to make the move permanent plus €5 million in add-ons should certain conditions be met.

Ten Hag was the main advocate behind the signing with the pair having worked together during their FC Utrecht days and the midfielder also impressed last season for club and country, guiding Morocco to the World Cup semifinals and Fiorentina to the UEFA Conference League final.

However, as per Fiorentina News, United are unlikely to sign the Moroccan ace and he is all set to return to Serie A where Fiorentina will sell him to some other club as he has no future at the Italian outfit.

No permanent move on the cards

“Right at the last minute, Sofyan Amrabat fulfilled his dream of wearing the Manchester United shirt, moving from Fiorentina to the Red Devils in the final hours of the summer transfer market. On English soil, however, things are not going as hoped by the Moroccan.

“Critics in England are often harshly attacking the midfielder, who arrived for a €10 million loan; the formula provides for a minimum of 20 million to be paid by the English club to acquire the player outright next summer. It is currently unlikely that the conditions will be met.

“The current scenario includes a very probable return to base for Amrabat, whose adventure with Fiorentina, however, does not seem to have any chance of starting, with the player set to be moved on again to another club.”

The African star will need to prove his critics wrong and put in quite the shift from now until the end of the season if he is to convince the club to splash the cash for his services next summer.

The post Sofyan Amrabat could be heading back to Fiorentina as Man United unlikely to sign him permanently appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Despite much fanfare, Sofyan Amrabat has had a mediocre start to life as a Manchester United player which has seen him drop down to the bench. Consequently, his spot in the team has been frequently taken by the much-maligned Scott McTominay.

It all started out so differently for the Moroccan World Cup hero. The midfield general was praised by United fans for his incredible patience to sign for the club despite the interest of many other teams including Premier League rivals Fulham. The player, who claimed to only have eyes for the Red Devils, finally got his dream move from Fiorentina on deadline day.

In fact, arch-rivals Liverpool were also rumoured to be close to securing the services of the World Cup semi-finalist, as a deal was said to be “only hours away”. However, once again Amrabat’s supposed desire for United kept the deal from happening. That is quite a way to endear yourself to Manchester United fans around the globe.

Anyone who was following the Red Devils’ transfer activity on social media during the dying embers of the window would have seen the name Amrabat trending everyday on X. Such a clamour for a player of the Moroccan’s stature is rare. You would have been excused for thinking United were chasing a world-class talent like Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham.

Man United fans got their wish and the man from Morocco was brought in on an initial €10m loan fee with the possibility of a permanent deal for €25m. The excitement probably mainly stemmed from the trending video of Amrabat heroically chasing down Mbappe at the World Cup and producing a monstrous sliding tackle to not only cleanly win the ball, but also continue to drive his team down the pitch by majestically carrying the ball downfield.

Secondly, the shambolic midfield performances versus Wolves on the opening day of the season also led many to doubt the wisdom of an aging Casemiro being the only defensive midfield option at the club.

So, the Moroccan made his much awaited debut vs Burnley in September and had fans excitedly chattering after a “stunning” full debut vs Crystal Palace at home in a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory.

Sadly, and this seems a recurring theme this season, things have only gone downhill since. The man from Huizen has failed to make any real lasting impression on the team. In fact, he has also put in some brutally poor performances. He was hooked at half-time in the Manchester derby and seems a regular candidate for the referee’s notebook. The pace of both the league and Champions League seems too much for the former Fiorentina man at present. Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton claimed the player looked like “a fish out of water” in the team’s 1-0 defeat vs Crystal Palace.

The Peoples Person recently labelled the signing a 1 out 10 so far stating that the midfielder has looked “overawed” and is yet to “find his feet” at the top level.

This lack of impact can be seen in the 10 games he has played in all competitions for the Mancunian side, he has failed to score or register an assist. In fact, the long-range pile driver that rattled the bar against Sheffield United is the only real chance he has had. To be fair, goals and assists should not be the marker of a defensive midfielder. So, let’s delve deeper.

According to Transfermarkt the player has only played more than 45 mins five times in his 10 appearances for the club. Hardly a ringing endorsement from the manager. The team have also lost five games and conceded 16 goals with the Moroccan picking up 3 yellow cards. Not great.

In Amrabat’s defence, it has not been plain sailing for him. The prolonged nature of the transfer meant that the midfielder had not been training with Fiorentina all summer, so effectively had no real pre-season. Furthermore, an injury crisis at his new club saw him play his first few games as a left-back, which is far from his natural position.

Additionally, he has had a revolving door of defensive and midfield partners in a club which is doused in uncertainty. Would anyone really be successful is the question. Lastly, to compound matters, the World Cup star picked up an injury while on international duty, so he has probably not been able to play to his maximum potential.

So what could have gone wrong, has gone wrong. This is the story of the Red Devils’ season. No matter what way you look at it, you cannot sugarcoat it. Amrabat has struggled and doesn’t look good enough. If the season ended tomorrow, the manager would be mad to sanction a permanent move. Luckily for the Moroccan, the season doesn’t end tomorrow. We are only in November and there is ample time to turn it around. Casemiro’s long term injury has also provided him a chance to nail down a more regular starting role in the defensive midfield department. Over to you Sofyan.

The post Sofyan Amrabat’s underwhelming start at Manchester United analysed appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

The defending champions never ever looked like troubling the Magpies and this result will heap further pressure on manager Erik ten Hag who seems to be losing the dressing room.

The Dutchman rotated his squad and one of the changes was bringing back Casemiro into the first XI after a chastening few weeks.

Casemiro has yet another off-colour outing

The manager was supposed to be talking to the Brazilian in a bid to help him regain form but he looked lost yet again.

He was once again substituted at half-time for the second game running and his statistics paint very poor picture yet again.

The former Real Madrid man had 43 touches of the ball but ended the first half with a passing rate of 75%.

What was even poorer was that he failed to once again do his primary job of shielding the defence, failing to win a single duel.

The 31-year-old lost possession 13 times and generally looked like he was not yet up to speed after a recent injury.

ETH cannot afford poor form from all defensive midfielders

Even attacking-wise, where he has thrived recently, Casemiro hardly got things right.

None of his two crosses found their mark while he managed to complete only 60% of the long balls he attempted (stats from Sofascore).

Sofyan Amrabat, who came in at half-time fared little better and Ten Hag will be desperate to see Casemiro regain the kind of form he showcased last season.

For now, things are looking dicey for Ten Hag who is on thin ground and anything could happen if the club get knocked out of the Champions League as well.

The post Casemiro let Manchester United down again vs Newcastle United appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

A brace from Erling Haaland and a Phil Foden strike ensured the three minutes went to Pep Guardiola while heaping further misery on Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman looks clueless at the moment and that is best encapsulated by his flawed team selection time and again this season.

Amrabat’s struggles

The midfield has been a source of constant consternation for the manager as he has failed to zero in on the ideal partnership despite one-and-a-half season in charge at Old Trafford.

The majority of his acquisitions also seem to be struggling with Sofyan Amrabat painting a particularly disappointing picture recently.

Even in the last game against Copenhagen in the Champions League, he was subbed off at half-time and the same scenario repeated itself in the derby.

The Moroccan hardly touched the ball, accumulating a meagre 20 touches in 45 minutes, a very poor number for a midfielder.

He made only 10 passes as the game completely bypassed him. He seemed to be struggling to keep up with the intensity of the City players.

Played for his ability to shield the defence in Casemiro’s absence, the 27-year-old won only 50% of his duels, a very poor return.

He fouled City players twice while making only a solitary clearance and blocked one effort.

Amrabat yet to adjust to life at United

He hardly affected play further up front, with 0 shots, 0 long passes and 0 crosses. He hardly could get his team going (all stats via sofascore).

It was hardly surprising to see him make way for Mason Mount in the second half and Ten Hag might just opt to drop him altogether in the games to come.

While he initially struggled as the left-back, he has hardly uprooted any trees in his preferred position and Ten Hag’s insistence of signing him in the summer looks to be backfiring.

Amrabat was signed on an initial loan deal and judging by his displays, a permanent move might not happen unless a dramatic change in form occurs in the months to come.

The post Sofyan Amrabat struggling to perform at Manchester United appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.