Amorim warned he’s made £100.5m duo feel unwanted, he risks them now switching off ‘mentally’

Stretty News

·6 février 2025

Amorim warned he’s made £100.5m duo feel unwanted, he risks them now switching off ‘mentally’

When Manchester United’s starting XI to face Crystal Palace was revealed last Sunday, fans were stunned to see neither Joshua Zirkzee nor Rasmus Hojlund leading the line at Old Trafford.

It was an entirely justifiable decision by Ruben Amorim to drop the misfiring duo, both of whom have struggled to maintain even the slightest bit of consistency in front of goal this season – which is further proven in the fact that neither has scored in the Premier League since the beginning of December.

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However, his choice to deploy Kobbie Mainoo up front is one that raised eyebrows. The youngster had impressed in a more attacking midfield role the match prior – a 2-0 win over FCSB in the Europa League – and immediately repaid his manager’s faith by creating both goals in the tie, initially assisting Diogo Dalot to break the deadlock before sealing the victory with a stellar finish only eight minutes later.

He was ultimately unable to recreate such a showing when up against the Eagles, though no United player covered themself in glory throughout the dismal 2-0 home defeat.

Amorim warned he’s made forward duo feel exiled

Hojlund and Zirkzee have both come under the microscope for their lacklustre performances. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Weighing in on the bold squad reshuffle from Amorim on BBC Radio 5 Live, Chris Sutton said: “If you are Zirkzee or Hojlund and you’re seeing Mainoo – who is a really excellent footballer but isn’t a centre-forward or false nine – being picked, you are thinking: ‘How on earth is he playing in front of me?’

“That is a real problem. Amorim is basically telling the pair of them that he doesn’t rate them in any way, shape or form.

“He could lose these two players, mentally, for the rest of the season now, and they might think about not applying themselves.”

Next up for Amorim and his men is a fourth-round FA Cup clash against Leicester City tomorrow evening, followed by a league contest away to Tottenham Hotspur on February 16.