Ruben Amorim will be pleased the only storm Manchester United had to navigate was provided by the skies. The head coach witnessed a rare comfortable victory against Sunderland to alleviate the pressure on him for a fortnight at least.
Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko scored their first home Premier League goals for the club, although, having joined two years apart, that indicates some of the problems Amorim has been dealing with. Apart from a brief scare on a penalty that never was, life was straightforward for United as they secured a third win and first clean sheet of the season amid downpours and gales but, like the Old Trafford roof, the hosts did their job.
Amorim has spent much of his tenure being criticised for an unwillingness to change his 3-4-3 formation. He led a passionate defence of his style and system at his Friday press conference, claiming it is not the issue. The same cannot be said of the personnel, leading to five changes from losing at Brentford, including a debut for the goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who was untroubled throughout.
When Bertrand Traoré failed to convert a simple chance in the opening minutes, there was concern that United were facing another very unpleasant afternoon. Good news came Amorim’s way in the ninth minute when one of his changes paid off. Bryan Mbeumo chipped the ball into the box, where Mount was waiting, taking a touch before carefully placing a shot into the corner. The Old Trafford nerves were calmed.
