Rúben Amorim has been warned against starting a Manchester United duo who “don’t work” against Man City as the two sides face off on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United made their return from the March international break earlier this week, and Rúben Amorim’s attention has now shifted to a huge clash with Manchester City at Old Trafford.
United slipped to a 1-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening. While the result was far from ideal and the lack of cutting edge remained a concern, there was a noticeable improvement in the team’s composure and quality on the ball.
Amorim will be hoping his side can turn that progress into goals when they take on Pep Guardiola’s City in Sunday’s Manchester Derby.
With a Europa League quarter-final on the horizon, the 40-year-old will also be keeping an eye on next Thursday’s trip to face Olympique Lyonnais in France.
Amorim warned against starting United duo
United’s lack of threat in front of goal cost them dearly against Forest, with the side amassing 23 shots and six on target including three big chances, but failed to score.
This has United fans calling for Rasmus Højlund to start up front while Joshua Zirkzee plays deeper, but former United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has warned Amorim against playing both players.
“Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee aren’t working as a pair up front,” Meulensteen explained this week. “Højlund doesn’t work by himself, nor does Zirkzee as a lone striker – he’s more of a ‘nine and a half’.
“I would like to see him drop deeper and link the play a bit more, but against Nottingham Forest, he was almost invisible! Ruben Amorim has to find a solution for both of them.
“Højlund relies on service from wide areas, which he isn’t getting; he’s crying out for a ball in behind the back line, that’s what he feeds off. But United overplay too much, so by the time the cross comes in, the defenders are all behind the ball, and the opportunity is gone.”
Amorim must unleash “perfect” player instead
With Meulensteen pleading Amorim not to start both players, the United head coach must instead look to play Mason Mount, who he has previously described as a player engaging in “perfect” practices ahead of his return to action.
Mount was finally able to play minutes on the pitch again against Forest following a hamstring injury in December that left him out of the side for three months, but with the player having been in full training for over three weeks, it is time for Amorim to put him back in the starting XI.
With Højlund and Zirkzee a pair who don’t work together, Amorim’s best bet may be to reinstate Højlund to the starting XI and drop Zirkzee, instead playing Mount on the left of the front three.
There are many other positions up for grabs this weekend, with Alejandro Garnacho slammed for his recent performance, while there is little certainty over who will play in the two defensive midfield positions, as Amorim may replace one of Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte to start Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role.
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