BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has claimed that Ruben Amorim has made his stance firm on one Manchester United star ahead of the Manchester City clash.
Manchester United returned to Premier League action on Sunday and the Red Devils will host Manchester City at Old Trafford for the Manchester derby.
Ruben Amorim has crossed paths with City boss Pep Guardiola twice this season and the United manager has walked away with bragging rights on both occasions.
The United head coach oversaw Sporting CP’s 4-1 thumping of City in the Champions League last November ahead of his arrival at Old Trafford in 2024.
Amorim’s side travelled to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s men last December and United beat City 2-1 after coming from behind in the Premier League clash.
The Red Devils were in action on Tuesday evening and Nottingham Forest inflicted a 1-0 win over United at City Ground in their Premier League match.
City, on the other hand, secured a 2-0 victory over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City side in their Premier League tie on Wednesday.
Chris Sutton raises question marks over Ruben Amorim’s handling of Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund ahead of Man City match
Ruben Amorim made the big call to drop Rasmus Hojlund and deployed Joshua Zirkzee in attack for Manchester United’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Rasmus Hojlund has struggled with his form and goalscoring output in the final third, but the Danish forward did score in United’s win over Leicester City last month.
Speaking in his BBC Sport column, Chris Sutton suggested that United manager Ruben Amorim “doesn’t fancy” the 22-year-old Denmark striker as his main pick.
“Manchester United are short of goals, and I don’t understand why Ruben Amorim went with Joshua Zirkzee to lead their attack ahead of Rasmus Hojlund in Tuesday’s defeat at Nottingham Forest,” he said.
“I see Hojlund as a number nine, while Zirkzee is a nine-and-a-half to a 10 – anything but a centre-forward.
“It cannot be helping Hojlund’s confidence, because it is quite obvious Amorim doesn’t fancy him when he is desperate for results and he is not picking him.
“People are saying United played well against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, and they dominated the ball, but they looked a bigger threat when Harry Maguire came on at the end of the game.
“Is there a chance of big Harry playing up front from the start here? That would be funny, but it is not going to happen.”
Chris Sutton reveals his clear Premier League scoreline prediction for Man Utd vs Man City at Old Trafford
United languish in 13th place in the Premier League table and the Red Devils have won only two of their last five league matches ahead of the Manchester City clash.
City are currently fifth in the league standing and the defending Premier League champions are a mammoth 22 points behind league leaders Liverpool
“Manchester City will have to try something different in their attack too, with Erling Haaland out injured,” Sutton continued.
“They have not clicked often enough this season, especially in the bigger games, and I still don’t feel you can trust them to turn up the way they always used to – but this time I have a feeling they will find a way through.
“If Amorim did manage to get the better of Pep Guardiola for a third time this season, then United would probably be selling T-shirts to mark the achievement.
“I don’t see it happening though.”
Sutton has backed City to arrive at Old Trafford and for Pep Guardiola’s men to secure all three Premier League points in a 2-1 win over United.
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