Manchester United are preparing for the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur and there are significant question marks surrounding the way Ruben Amorim lines up.
Despite the underperformance from Manchester United this season, there aren’t too many big decisions for Ruben Amorim to make for the Europa League final.
The defence almost picks itself due to injuries and there’s unlikely to be any real surprises at wingback. Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro will start in the midfield but Mason Mount might start over Manuel Ugarte like he did against Chelsea. Amad is a certain starter on the right too.
But the one position which seems like it must be altered for the final is up front, despite Rasmus Højlund being the only available striker.
The Danish forward has played 90 minutes in his last two Premier League games, with Amorim desperate for him to find form ahead of the final. He instead put in two of his worst United performances, of which there have been many.
Joshua Zirkzee is injured and Chido Obi is not registered to play in Europe. Yet, somehow, Højlund’s place in the team is not guaranteed and many fans believe that Amorim has to tinker with his team.
Why United should avoid Fernandes experiment in Europa League final
This time last year, United dropped Højlund for the FA Cup final and utilised Fernandes up front as a false-nine, with Scott McTominay just behind him. It worked perfectly and Erik ten Hag’s side pulled off an unlikely victory.
Many are calling for the same experiment to occur in Bilbao, with Fernandes pushing forward as a false-nine and someone taking his place in midfield.
The problem with this is that Fernandes is not the same player he was under Ten Hag. The importance he has in deeper play for Amorim’s side cannot be underestimated and that is why he’s so often used in the midfield pivot now.
Previous complaints about his wastefulness are rare these days as the United captain has started to find the perfect blend of kickstarting attacks but also keeping a calm head and running the game. If you move him up front, that will be absent in the most important match of the season.
Also, if you look at the opposition in Spurs, their main weakness heading into the final is in the middle of the park due to injuries to James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall. United have to take advantage of their superiority in the midfield and Fernandes has to operate in there.
Who are the other Højlund alternatives?
Despite the need for Fernandes in midfield, it is certainly not crazy to consider alternatives upfront for Højlund. At the moment, he is not only failing to score goals but he’s ruining United attacks with his inability to hold the ball up or pass to his teammates.
There are a few different options that Amorim can look at, with the main two being Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo – the latter was tested as a false-nine earlier in the season.
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Mainoo has the ability to hold the ball up and link play, while Mount is someone who has Amorim’s trust. If either of them started up front, Alejandro Garnacho would be a must-starter on the left, as the last-line threat of United would be minimal without him or Højlund.
The shouts for Harry Maguire to start up front were jokes at first but many fans would probably prefer the English centre-back to play there if Matthijs de Ligt was fit. If the Reds need a goal in the final 10 minutes of the game, it would be no surprise if the 32-year-old is thrown up there.
Of course, Højlund could still start the game and if he does, he has to realise that it is a chance for him to re-write his United career. Even if things don’t work out in the long-term, scoring in a European final for United to win the competition would create a memory for a lifetime.
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