Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has moved to clarify his decision to bench strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, insisting the choice was purely tactical and not a reflection of his opinion of the two forwards. Instead, Amorim opted to deploy Kobbie Mainoo in a false nine role—a decision that ultimately failed to yield the desired results.
A Tactical Gamble That Didn’t Pay Off
Mainoo, who started brightly and even hit the post in the early stages, saw his influence diminish as the game progressed. The young midfielder was eventually substituted as United searched for a way back into the match. Zirkzee and Højlund were introduced in the second half, but neither managed to make a meaningful impact as the Red Devils slumped to yet another disappointing home defeat.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Amorim explained his reasoning behind the unconventional lineup. “Today we chose to play with Kobbie…to use the characteristics of Kobbie,” he said. “This is nothing against Rasmus Højlund or Josh [Zirkzee]. Sometimes the team scores goals by creating situations to use the right characteristics.”
Amorim emphasised that the issue was not the absence of a traditional striker but rather a broader problem with the team’s performance. “It doesn’t mean if we use two strikers we’re going to score more goals, so I think it’s a team problem, and we spoke about that all the time. We need to improve our performance in every aspect of the game, especially scoring goals.”
United’s Struggles at Old Trafford
The defeat to Crystal Palace extended United’s woeful home form this season, with the team now having lost five of their last seven matches at Old Trafford. Despite the result, Amorim insisted there were signs of improvement in the performance, albeit not enough to change the outcome.
“I think the performance improved…not a lot, but I think we played better than in the other games, even against Southampton. I think we played better today,” he said. “But of course, when you continue to lose at home, you have that feeling that the small improvements of the team mean nothing. So let’s go again and see in the next game.”
Transfer Window Activity
With the January transfer window set to close on Monday, Amorim admitted that the club is actively working to strengthen the squad. However, he remained tight-lipped when asked about specific targets, including Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, who had been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
“We are trying everything to improve the team without doing the mistakes of the past,” Amorim said. “We will see. There is one more day. Let’s wait until the window is closed. We are trying our best to improve the team. This market is very hard on the clubs. To make some deals here, it’s hard.”
He added: “We are trying everything, guys. I want so badly to improve the team. I know what the team needs.”
Injury Concerns for Lisandro Martínez
The match also saw a worrying injury to Lisandro Martínez, who was stretchered off in the 83rd minute. The Argentine defender has been a key figure for United, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, and Amorim expressed concern over the severity of the injury.
“Licha is really important for us, not just as a football player but as a character, especially in this hard moment,” Amorim said. “Now it’s time to help Licha. I think it’s a bad situation. Let’s wait to assess things with the doctor, but I think it’s a serious situation.”
On Marcus Rashford’s Loan Move
Amorim was also asked about Marcus Rashford’s impending loan move to Aston Villa and whether it would be “embarrassing” if the forward thrived at his new club. The United boss dismissed the notion, stating: “Humiliating? It’s not embarrassing. When you loan a player, and I think it is not official, you expect him to play and improve, so there is nothing humiliating there.”
Looking Ahead to the FA Cup
United’s attention now turns to the FA Cup, where they will face Leicester City in the fourth round on Friday. The tie will see Amorim go head-to-head with former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is now managing the Foxes. It presents an opportunity for the Red Devils to bounce back from their recent struggles and keep their hopes of silverware alive this season.
For Amorim, the match is another chance to refine his tactics and find the right balance in his team. While the defeat to Crystal Palace highlighted ongoing issues, the United boss remains determined to turn things around and deliver the results the club’s fans crave. As the transfer window draws to a close, all eyes will be on whether United can secure the reinforcements needed to bolster their push for success.
