Rotation has been the order of the day during Ruben Amorim’s first four matches in charge of Premier League giants Manchester United.
Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee hit braces against Everton but both started on the bench four days later at the Emirates Stadium.
Amad Diallo, exceptional during that 4-0 hammering of Sean Dyche’s side, played only 45 minutes in the midweek Arsenal defeat while Tyrell Malacia was included in Manchester United’s XI for only the second time since the end of 2022/23.
Amorim is keen to manage Mason Mount’s minutes as well, while hoping to avoid a setback for both Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro.
So, as Manchester United host Nottingham Forest this weekend while kicking off a gruelling run of seven games before New Years’ Day, expect the former Sporting boss to ring the changes again.
Ruben Amorim suggets Manuel Ugarte will be rested by Manchester United
“More or less, yes,” Amorim said in his pre-match press conference when asked if he knows his best XI at Old Trafford. “We have an idea.
“But then we have players returning without training, and then you have to manage the load. So, always we have the same problem. Then, you need to understand what kind of player you have.”
Amorim accepts that Bruno Fernandes, not at his best in North London, may be a little fatigued at present.
But, having famously missed only two games through injury in his entire Manchester United career, the manager knows that Bruno is one of those he can rely on sometimes even twice a week even if he maybe would benefit from an afternoon off.
Manuel Ugarte, in contrast, is unlikely to be part of Man United’s starting XI against Nottingham Forest.
With Kobbie Mainoo back from suspension, with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen rested at Arsenal, the Uruguay international is all-but certain to sit it out when Nuno Espirito Santo’s team come to town.
“Bruno Fernandes, you feel it against Arsenal, in the end he was a little bit tired. But you know he is going to recover very well.
“[But] if you talk about Manu, who I have known him for so long time he needs a little bit more time,” adds Amorim, who coached Ugarte during his time in the Portuguese capital too.
“So, we are in that process, to know the players and try to manage that. But we are getting closer to an idea [about our best XI].”
Amorim sees improvements despite Arsenal defeat
Man United’s record under Amorim so far sits at two wins, one draw and one defeat. There were plenty of positives that could be taken out of that Arsenal reverse, however.
The Red Devils played with a control and a discipline so often lacking under Erik ten Hag, while Leny Yoro was very impressive on his Man United debut after so long on the sidelines.
Amorim, meanwhile, refused to get too high after that 4-0 thumping of Everton. And he’s not getting too low about losing at Arsenal either.
“I learn the same with wins because I focus on the performance. We won 4-0 against Everton but I saw so many things that were wrong. I saw the same against Arsenal,” Amorim explains.
“We need time to think about things. We don’t have much time to train and have to prepare for the next opponent but, when I see the team, I think we’re improving in some aspects.”
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