Rúben Amorim has fired a warning shot at three Manchester United players ahead of the club’s Premier League encounter against Man City on Sunday.
Manchester United resumed their season earlier this week following the March international break, and Rúben Amorim is now preparing his side for a crucial Manchester Derby against City at Old Trafford.
Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest was a frustrating result, with United once again lacking a clinical edge in front of goal. However, there were positives to take, as Amorim’s men showed more confidence and control in possession.
The Portuguese coach will be hoping that improvement translates into goals when his side face Pep Guardiola’s City on Sunday afternoon.
With the Europa League also on the agenda, Amorim will be carefully managing his squad ahead of next Thursday’s trip to France to face Olympique Lyonnais.
Amorim addresses Garnacho vs Forest
Following the Forest result, Alejandro Garnacho was subject to heavy criticism for his decision-making in the final third on Tuesday evening.
Although the player created five chances and had 82 touches on the night, his shots were often blocked, wayward, or the wrong decision, which frustrated United fans.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Amorim was asked about the struggling Argentina winger, to which he explained that although Garnacho is doing a lot of things right, he need to improve in the final third.
“I think he is doing the right things,” Amorim said. “Like any player in our team, he has to choose better in the last third.
“Bruno [Fernandes] is the only one scoring goals easily. Garnacho needs to improve the way he runs, the way he defends, scores and assists. He is improving.”
Amorim’s warning to three players
Although the topic of the question was about the 20-year-old forward, two other United players must also be wary of Amorim’s words.
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Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund have continually failed to be a consistent goal threat under the 40-year-old head coach, and what Amorim said on Friday afternoon serves as a clear warning to the duo alongside Garnacho.
With Amorim’s admission that he feels Fernandes is the only player currently capable of scoring goals, this shows how the coach currently feels about his strikers and their lack of goals of late.
Amorim stated that he feels Garnacho needs to improve in the way he scores and assists, and both the aforementioned strikers should take note and absorb the advice as they head into a grueling and fast-pased end of the 2024/25 campaign.
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