Manchester United are gearing up to face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, with the Red Devils keen to get over the disappointment of losing their season opener.
It was an accomplished display by Ruben Amorim’s side, who dominated Arsenal and were unlucky to lose the contest after a goalkeeping howler from Altay Bayindir.
Naturally, question marks have been raised over who the head coach will select in goal for the clash against the Cottagers. He remained non-committal but did reveal that Andre Onana is fit.
However, Noussair Mazraoui, and Lisandro Martinez remain sidelined.
Fitness update
“Onana is ready to play like last week, so we will see in the game who is going to be the goalkeeper. Licha is out, Nous is out. The rest of the guys are fit,” Amorim said during the pre-match press conference.
Regarding the positive performance against the Gunners, the ex-Sporting CP coach made it clear that he now has multiple options to utilise from the bench, which helped immensely.
He also praised the team for the way they used the ball in the build-up, and wants more of the same in the coming games.
“We are better, but also because we have different characteristics and we can change that during the game. Now, we have more options and you see we play a different style with Cunha, for example, and then in the end with Sesko because he is a different player we can use.
“We are improving in that department also. We are creating more chances, so we are ready for any kind of game. The biggest improvement we had [vs Arsenal] was we didn’t lose the ball so many times in build-up. That was really good also for our team.”
On Kobbie Mainoo
On the topic of substitutions, the fact that the coach did not bring on Kobbie Mainoo, and opted for Manuel Ugarte was not well received.
The Uruguayan endured a cameo to forget, thereby ramping up the pressure on Amorim to pick the Carrington graduate in the coming games.
However, Amorim explained that his decision was purely tactical and that Mainoo would get his chance as it is a long season and there will be games tailor-made for him.
“We have some issues, but we play with two midfielders and sometimes it’s a different way of playing. We, and they, have to understand, especially the young players, there will be spaces this season.
“This is normal with a lot of games, things are going to change, but he’s there, he’s fighting, he’s training and is one more option for us to win games.”
The fact that the Englishman is yet to agree a contract extension with the club and keeps getting linked with a move away is also concerning to fans.
On bomb squad
“That part is with Jason [Wilcox]. He is our player. He has a contract. I didn’t hear any news about that,” Amorim added.
Naturally, questions were asked about Rasmus Hojlund’s future as well as the rest of the bomb squad.
On Hojlund, the Portuguese tactician said, “Like a professional player [how did he react to being dropped]. We need to see. Let’s wait and see when the market closes and then everything will be clear.”
As for the others, Amorim explained, “I think again, I know that is not a good thing to have players in this situation, but it’s clear they want to play in a different club and that is clear.
“So we try to arrange everything for both parts to be happy, so I have to try to imagine to have the training with the guys that I think are going to be the future and the other guys are training and preparing for the next chapter.
“When the window is closed, it’s a different history. When the window is closed, we have to receive the players and in a new life, anything can happen.”
Feature image George Wood via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
