Manchester United's recent 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace highlighted their effective use of set-pieces. Trailing after Jean-Philippe Mateta's penalty, United turned the game around with goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, both stemming from Bruno Fernandes' free-kicks. This season, seven of United's ten away goals in the Premier League have come from set-pieces, matching Chelsea's record.
Ruben Amorim, United's manager, acknowledged learning from other Premier League teams to enhance their set-piece strategies. "We work a lot," Amorim stated. "We have more time to work, we work a lot and we learn a lot in England. " He admitted that they are adopting tactics observed from rivals to improve their goal-scoring opportunities.
Amorim praised
his players for their increased intensity after halftime, which he believed was crucial for their comeback. He told his team to be more active on the field. "I just said to the players we need to be more alive and you can feel that," he explained. The team's heightened energy allowed them to control the game as Crystal Palace began to tire.
Fernandes' contributions were significant in this match, providing his 55th and 56th assists for Manchester United in the Premier League. This achievement places him ahead of Paul Scholes and behind only Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, and David Beckham in terms of assists for the club.
Job done in the capital pic.twitter.com/dDH5xH1e12 Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 30, 2025
Amorim also noted that as Crystal Palace's players tired in the second half, United capitalised by increasing their tempo. This shift allowed them to seize control of the match and secure victory. The manager emphasised that understanding when opponents are fatigued can be pivotal in gaining an advantage.
Manchester United's ability to adapt and learn from others has been instrumental in their success this season. By incorporating effective strategies seen across the league, they continue to enhance their performance on the field.
