Just three games into his career as Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim is showing how smart he is.
Results will always determine how a coach is viewed. If Manchester United had lost three games in a row, starting three different strikers in each game, Ruben Amorim would no doubt be being criticised as indecisive.
With two wins and a draw, unbeaten Ruben Amorim simply looks shrewd, a coach exploring his options and getting to know his players.
Yet in breaking down his choice to start Joshua Zirkzee up front against Everton, Amorim revealed how much thought goes into his selections, and how he is already possessing a strong knowledge of his Manchester United players‘ strengths and weaknesses.
Ruben Amorim explains Zirkzee over Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund played all 90 minutes for Manchester United in midweek against Bodo/Glimt, and led the line superbly, pressing from the front.
He provided an assist within 45 seconds, and went on to score two goals in a 3-2 victory – while Joshua Zirkzee did not even come off the bench. So it looked likely the Dane would start against Everton.
Ruben Amorim sprang a surprise selecting Joshua Zirkzee up front against the Toffees – and his decision was inspired, with the Dutchman scoring two goals in a 4-0 win. They were his first goals since August.
Speaking in his press conference, Amorim expertly broke down why he chose not to start Hojlund, and pointed to Everton’s physical defensive duo of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, believing the United forward could get dragged into a wrestling match.
Amorim explained: “I just try to help my players and put them in a good position for their characteristics, and I think, today, it would be really hard, even for Rasmus, to fight with the two centre-backs of Everton.”
While Hojlund is far better equipped than Joshua Zirkzee for a physical contest of such nature, Amorim explained that he chose to combat them another way, by using the Dutchman’s movement and tendency to drop deep, to create space for his team to exploit. And it worked.
He said: “So we tried to push them to a position that they are not so comfortable. Josh did a great job.”
Amorim added that he was very pleased with Zirkzee’s display, commenting: “Scoring two goals is always important for the confidence. But, more important than that is the performance, the way he fought in every situation, so it was a good day for him and for our team.”
Amorim has another interesting decision ahead in midweek. Will Hojlund get dragged into another physical contest against Gabriel, when United face Arsenal? Or will the Gunners not be so naive as Everton’s defenders to get dragged out of position by Zirkzee?
Amorim not convinced over Rashford as centre-forward
The other option available to Amorim is to go with Marcus Rashford, who scored two goal, taking advantage of some of the space created by Zirkzee’s movement.
With the pair scoring four between them, there is chance Amorim sticks with it. But his comments after the Everton game show he will try and match his selection with the characteristics of the match-up, rather than simply form.
Amorim spoke last week to say he had spotted a problem with Rashford up front, commenting that in doing so, ‘we lost some physicality, some ability to hold the ball’.
Keeping possession is going to be vital against Arsenal, so if Rashford starts, it is more likely he does so in a more withdrawn role, like against Everton.
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