The brutal honesty of Ruben Amorim has been replaced by passive-aggressive jabs in the media, and Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee might just have been at the end of a recent one.
It’s well-known by now that Ruben Amorim is not afraid of making an example out of someone to make a point about someone else.
Chido Obi and Harry Amass were caught in the crossfire when he doubled down on his stance on Kobbie Mainoo, and it might have happened again.
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This time, Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee have just been sent a harsh message while Amorim tries not to blink in the poker game against Ineos.
Ruben Amorim’s brutal message to wantaway players
From the very first moment he walked through the doors of Old Trafford, Amorim has been clear that he only wants players who are fully committed to playing for the club.
That is a well-intentioned stance in theory, but a hard stance like that has seen the creation of an exiled group last summer, leaving United in a lose-lose situation while selling.
It hasn’t softened Amorim, however, who said in his recent press conference that there is “something wrong” with players who want to leave United.
Amorim was asked again about the January transfer plans, but he said he needs to be with the players he has, even if some want to leave.
He said: “If you’re at Man Utd and you’re thinking of another club, then there is something really wrong with you, but that’s okay, we prepare with the players we have for the next one.”
It’s clear from his quotes above that he has players in his ranks who would like to be elsewhere, which is irking him to no end.
Just because the board doesn’t think they can get replacements, he’s stuck with working with them, but he’s not taking it lying down.
Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee might be the intended recipients
Amorim didn’t name anyone in those comments, but his treatment of Joshua Zirkzee, who was subbed off at half-time vs Wolves and didn’t start vs Leeds, speaks volumes.
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Zirkzee is one of those players who has made peace with leaving United in January, agreeing terms with AS Roma.
He has made a difference in both games despite limited minutes, but Amorim is clearly uncomfortable having such players in his plans.
The same goes for Kobbie Mainoo, whose supposed minor injury in December has snowballed into an issue that will probably see Bruno Fernandes return before him.
It would be a step too far to theorise that Mainoo is not actually injured, but the way the minutes of two players who were linked with moves elsewhere have shrunk, it’s difficult to see how that’s not intentional.
They’ve been sent a message by Amorim that if they don’t want to be here, and the board can’t let them go, then there is something “really wrong” with them.
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