Man Utd must find new ways of creating and scoring amid AFCON absences
Ruben Amorim is keen for Manchester United to avoid a dip in creativity when Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo go to AFCON.
Manchester United will need to find new creative and goalscoring solutions with three players leaving for Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Ruben Amorim's side did not struggle in front of goal against Bournemouth on Monday, but they failed to hold on for all three points in a hugely entertaining 4-4 draw at Old Trafford.
In the opening 45 minutes, United produced the second-highest non-penalty expected goals value (2.49), most shots (17) and joint-most touches in the opposition's box (30) of any side in the top flight this season.
However, it ended up being only the third time they scored four goals in a Premier League game but failed to win.
Amad Diallo opened the scoring for the Red Devils but alongside Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo, the winger is part of a trio of players who will be unavailable for the rest of the year as they head to AFCON in Morocco.
Amorim challenged the remaining players to ensure United do not lose the edge that has seen them score eight goals in their past two outings.
"It's an opportunity for everyone. We'll be ready for the challenge, we already knew," Amorim told a news conference.
"It can happen to any team. A lot of teams are going to lose players. We need to just go for the next game with the responsibility to win the game, to fight.
"We will try to find different ways of creating chances and scoring goals."
It was the fifth time this season United have failed to win after going 1-0 up. While Amorim acknowledged they have some defensive shortcomings, he does not intend to bolster his options with new additions in the upcoming transfer window.
"We are lacking quality when we defend our goal. It's something that we need to address, of course," said Amorim.
"I think it's different when you suffer so many goals and the opponent doesn't create as much as we do. It's really frustrating, but we need to work a lot in the way we defend the box.
"We have quality players in the back. We just need to be better as a team defending.
"We are improving, but I think it's not the same situation. We have the characteristics. We just need to work together and to improve our players because they have quality to defend better."
