Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has insisted that his decision to not give the youngsters a real chance in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur was because he felt the team was doing well and there was no need to make changes.
James Maddison’s 13th-minute strike was the difference between the two sides, as United slipped to a 12th defeat of the Premier League season.
United were without 12 first-team squad members, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Toby Collyer and Amad picking up injuries in training.
Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro were also unavailable for selection due to illness.
As a result, Amorim turned to the academy, naming eight kids on the bench for the contest in North London. Amorim included Ayden Heaven, Harry Amass, Sekou Kone, Elyh Samuel Harrison, Tyler Fredricson, Chido Obi, Jack Fletcher and Jack Lee Moorhouse in the matchday squad.
Only Chido Obi got a taste of the action, as he was thrust into the action in added time to replace Casemiro.
On why Chido Obi was only afforded three minutes of added time while the other youngsters remained on the bench despite the fact United were trailing, Amorim remarked, “I felt the team was good during the game, and I didn’t feel the need to change.”
“Then Chido [Obi] is that player, one long ball he could make the difference. Chido in the box is very clever.”
Amorim expressed hope that some United players will return from injury or illness ahead of Saturday’s clash at Everton.
Asked about the return dates of his stars, the United boss answered, “It’s hard to know. Let’s wait a few more days. I think Leny [Yoro] and Chris [Eriksen] were sick, so they will recover.”
“Chris has the heart situation and we have to be really careful with that – it’s nothing about the heart! I’m just saying the heart rate has to be controlled because he has a fever. I think they will recover and the rest we will see.”
“I think Kobbie [Mainoo] is out and Amad is for sure out, for the season. I think weeks [for Mainoo].”
“I think it’s everything together. Amad was alone, he was doing a tackle, his feet were in the grass. Some players felt sick during training sickness. So it’s everything.”
“We try everything to have the players fit, we always talk about my changes game by game to have the players fit and I was always asking for one week [with no midweek game]…And in one week, we lost so many players. Sometimes we have one moment where everything is going wrong. If you look even with the problem that we had with Luke, you look at the squad in the beginning of this week, with time to train and then day by day we are losing players.”
“But I don’t want to use that as an excuse, every coach in the world now is suffering with that. Sometimes in these moments, everything goes wrong, we have to face the challenge in the next game and that is all.”
Amorim emphasised that United’s failure to be clinical in front of goal is what ultimately cost them against Ange Postecoglou’s men.
He added about Joshua Zirkzee’s performance, “I think Josh is not a clear nine, he played more as a 10. He’s stronger physically, he’s thinner, he’s working really hard and he played in a better position for him and he’s improving. He’s winning more duels, he’s even faster, and you feel it in the game.”
United are now 15th in the table and 12 points above the drop zone.
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
