Ruben Amorim says Matthijs de Ligt may not play but Kobbie Mainoo is back ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Amorim was speaking at the pre-match press conference and was asked about fitness issues and replied:
“Kobbie is returning to training so we will see and assess him. Of course, he cannot start the game. Matthijs has an issue, something during the (Forest) & game we have to assess.”
Quizzed on the progress of Alejandro Garnacho, he responded:
“I think he is doing the right things. Like any player in our team, he has to choose better in the last third. Bruno [Fernandes] is the only one scoring goals easily. Garnacho needs to improve the way he runs, the way he defends, scores and assists. He is improving.
“Garnacho is improving in the way he defends. Of course he needs to improve his goals and assists.”
On whether Mason Mount can start a game, he said “he is fit enough to start, but we must manage him. Mason has trained a lot of times, getting the load in his body. Sometimes the mind is more important than the body. He is fit to play and we will see on Sunday.”
The boss was also asked to comment on the announcement that Kevin de Bruyne is set to leave Manchester City and the Premier League.
“He was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League,” he replied. “The time passes for everyone, it’s a natural. He improved the league. He was on the wrong side of Manchester! It was a pleasure to see him in Portugal a lot of times. I hope he enjoys the rest of his life.”
Staying on Sunday’s opponents, Amorim was asked whether he thinks City are over their problems.
“I am more focused on our problems,” he said. “I think we have bigger problems than Manchester City. They had problems in that run. They have improved. They have maybe the best coach in the world. They have top players. It will be a difficult match. I am so focused on improving my team, I am not focused on City’s improvements.”
Asked if the victory over City was the highlight of his time so far at United, he said “I don’t see one win as a special moment. Special moments are to win titles.”
The next topic was whether he believes INEOS’ goal of winning the Premier League by 2028 is realistic.
“Of course, I understand and I am not naive,” he answered. “Sometimes, it is for me. I cannot manage that [the expectation]. I know that we are not going to be the biggest contender in the next year or two years.
“We are doing a lot of things. Sometimes we have changed players because they have had to adjust to our new standards. We have to change a lot of things, we have changed a lot of staff, we have changed things inside the club.
“I cannot say we need a lot of years – I cannot manage that. I am not saying we are going to win the title in the next year – I am not crazy. Next year, we are suffering a lot to be so much better.
“Not just Manchester City but other teams, they are already in a place where we need a lot to catch them. I just want to focus on our strengths and use our club to bring one or two big players [in]. We are doing all the stuff to be so much better next season. If it is going to take four years, I don’t know. Next season we need to be so much better.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
