Summary

  1. 'We aren't mentally focused enough'published at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    A final word from Harry Maguire on whether it helps the Manchester United players hearing the manager call the team nervous: "We spoke about the first goal at Old Trafford. It's not teams coming to Old Trafford and opening us up and tactically breaking us down. Anyone that was at the game against Brighton - it was a 50/50 game and could have gone either way and we gave them a goal early on which we knew we had to stop. We spoke about it in the pre-match.

    "We have to stop giving away the first goal. The first goal against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were set-plays, the first goal against Southampton was from a set-play.

    "These aren't things that are tactically a problem - these are things that you have to go into a game focused on and mentally ready to win a football match.

    "Football matches are sometimes defined on small margins and at the moment we aren't getting those because we aren't mentally focused enough to make them go our away."

  2. 'Playing for this club is a huge privilege and honour'published at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Harry MaguireImage source, Getty Images

    Harry Maguire on whether it has benefitted him not being Manchester United captain: "I wouldn't put my form down to that - whether I'm captain or not - I see myself as a leader in this group. I'm experienced now and have been here over five years.

    "I know at times when playing for this club there is so many ups and downs and every game that you lose there is a lot of scrutiny on the players and players get targeted - that is part and parcel of playing for this club.

    "I look at previous players, the likes of Wayne Rooney and David Beckham - they had large amounts of scrutiny on them and they were world-class players. If it can happen to them it can happen to anyone. It's part and parcel of playing for this club.

    "Playing for this club is a huge privilege and a huge honour and I wouldn't change it for anything."

  3. 'We have to look at ourselves and take responsibility'published at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on the players' response to Ruben Amorim's comments after the Brighton game: "As players after the game we were really frustrated and disappointed coming off the back of a good away performance. We were confident and felt we could beat Brighton.

    "We have to look at ourselves and take responsibility on ourselves.

    "As an individual I go home and think about how I can help this team improve and get back to where we want to get to, which is to challenge a lot higher than we are in the league.

    "We have to take responsibility and improve individually, which will help the team improve."

    Harry Maguire in the news conferenceImage source, PA Media
  4. Maguire up nextpublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Ruben Amorim would probably reply, Chris, that no-one ever said managing Manchester United was going to be easy.

    How it compares to his previous role with Sporting is anyone's guess, something that only Amorim could really explain, but it's certainly been an interesting few months watching his progress.

    Right, next up we will hear from Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and how the players have reacted to Amorim's comments...

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:47 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    The change in demeanour in Amorim over just a few weeks is stark. The combination of a team that seem incapable of carrying out his plans and a press that scrutinise every detail of what he says and does seems to be a culture shock.

    Chris, Liverpool

  6. Amorim shuts down question on outgoings/incomingspublished at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on how important it is to reinvest if the club sell the likes of Alejandro Garnacho: "I understand the question but let's focus on the game. I don't want to talk about that, especially before a game. Our focus is that our players are here to play. We need to improve and we need to win games to have that feeling of winning. Let's focus on that."

    Alejandro GarnachoImage source, PA Media
  7. 'If you want I can be delusional, I say it as I see it'published at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on whether things can get worse: "Imagine that tomorrow we don't suffer an early goal and we score and we play well and then we go to Fulham and win it - that will change - even the environment here. Everything. I don't want to say it's going to take a lot of time but it is getting really hard. It is really hard for everybody. I don't know if we can change that tomorrow."

    On whether saying the team are 'nervous' is helpful for the players: "If you want I can be delusional and say different things. I say it as I see it. I said it to the players and I said it to you - I think it's a good thing to be really honest. If you want me to say different things, I can start to do that because it is easier for me. If you are in the stadium you can feel it but I am not nervous, I am frustrated."

  8. 'It is getting harder to play at Old Trafford'published at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    More from Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on how he can combat the nervousness in the team: "We are more nervous playing at home than away because we've lost four games in five at home and it is getting harder.

    "The first thing in my mind is that we need to score the first goal. If we score the first goal then that will change and we will play better at home.

    "I think it is really clear - we are really anxious playing at home and it is getting harder to play at Old Trafford."

    Ruben AmorimImage source, Getty Images
  9. 'It is the same players doing worse with a new coach'published at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on whether he tried to use his post-match comments to take away responsibility from the players: "I am not taking responsibility away from the players. What I am saying is, the message you guys showed is that I was putting it on the players. What I am saying is, you have to look really hard to find a Manchester United team that in 10 games lost seven of them, and that is on me.

    "It is the same players doing worse with a new coach. That is my only concern at the moment. I am not taking responsibility away from the players but we need to improve in the details and I've explained that.

    "The way we play, we are too nervous with the ball. It wasn't the best point to make after that loss but it is what is is and I am like that all the time. I am really direct with things and I am saying in this moment, we are performing really bad and our results are really bad.

    "It is everything together - the players, the staff, the technical staff. I am the biggest one responsible because I am the coach."

  10. 'I am not nervous...I am frustrated'published at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has just clarified that he was not nervous on the touchline in games after saying that he sensed nerves in his players.

    Amorim said that, rather than being nervous, his overriding emotion was one of frustration.

    More to follow.

    Ruben AmorimImage source, Getty Images
  11. 'I said the same thing to the players in the dressing room'published at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on the response he has seen from his players after his comments following the Brighton game: "I was talking more for myself than for my players because it is hard to find a coach that has lost seven games in their first 10. It is more for me.

    "I was talking more about me than the players. I always talk in the same way.

    "Every time you [the press] push about the players not being good enough, so I understand that I gave you that headline.

    "I am frustrated sometimes and I shouldn't say things in those terms but it is what it is. Sometimes it is really hard to hide the frustration. The good thing is I said the same things in the dressing room five minutes before.

    "The response was normal because I am really blunt with my players. They have trained well and they are ready for this game."

  12. Amorim’s missionpublished at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Ruben AmorimImage source, PA Media

    Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim seemed to be a man lost in his own thoughts as his players began their training session at Carrington this morning.

    Amorim must prepare his team to play Rangers tomorrow after calling them ‘maybe’ the worst United side ever.

    The former Sporting boss was almost like a caged tiger as he paced up and down on his own.

    I guess he wasn’t thinking about his press conference but he will have to navigate what could be a tricky experience, not least because Harry Maguire will be sat next to him and will presumably be asked about Amorim’s comments on Sunday.

  13. 'I am the most to blame'published at 13:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Man Utd v Rangers (Thu, 20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Just a few days later and Ruben Amorim is back talking, this time in the build-up to Manchester United's Europa League clash at home to Rangers.

    He has just said that he was the most to blame for Sunday's performance in United's 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton.

    More to follow.

  14. 'Maybe worst side in Man Utd history' - Amorimpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Manchester United

    Right, it's time to hear from Ruben Amorim, who created a few waves on Sunday by saying that the current Manchester United side was "maybe the worst" in Manchester United's 147-year history:

    "In [the past] 10 games in Premier League, we won two," said Amorim. "Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United. Imagine what this is for me.

    "We are getting a new coach who is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that.

    "We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United. I know you [media] want headlines but I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go: your headlines."

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    I know it may be an unfashionable pick and they don't always play as a front 3, but surely the Bournemouth 3 of Semenyo, Evanilson and Kluivert deserve a mention.

    Anon

  16. Front three vs top twopublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    Jhon Duran and Ollie WatkinsImage source, Getty Images

    To highlight that fact, check out these stats for two of the best attacking sides in the Premier League this season.

    While Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran have rarely been used together in the same team, they have all had an impact on Unai Emery's side, which tends to have one player leading the line, with two more attacking players behind.

    But Brentford's duo of Byran Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa are a case in point that sometimes less is more, with an impressive 29 goal involvements between them this season in the Premier League.

    Rodgers, Watkins, Duran (Aston Villa):

    Goals: 26

    Assists: 11

    Total: 37

    Wissa and Mbuemo (Brentford):

    Goals: 24

    Assists: 5

    Total: 29

  17. The original front three?published at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    A very good shout Neil - George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton would certainly have to be in the running as one of the most talented front threes of all time, wouldn't they?

    It shows how far the Manchester United trio were ahead of their time.

    Until recently, the conversation about attacking partnerships was based on a front pairing, rather than a front three, was it not?

    Statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby CharltonImage source, Getty Images
  18. get involved

    Get Involved - Front-three debatepublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

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    With the sad passing of Denis Law last week. I did wonder if Best, Charlton & Law may be the best front 3 ever? And what would they be worth now?

    Neil

  19. Postpublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    We highlighted the attacking statistics of the leading forwards in the Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Newcastle sides as an example of the numbers shown in leading Premier League clubs not taking part in this season's Champions League.

    Those figures are based on league stats alone. The players chosen are those who have played the most number of games in the forward line or had the most impact.

    The previous stats for Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are based on goals and assists in all competitions.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    The thing with the Liverpool front 3 is that no one knows who it is aside from Salah, with Nunez, Jota and Chiesa also seamlessly drifting in and out - does that go for or against them as a front 3 powerhouse?

    Chris