The Manchester United squad looks thin at the beginning of 2026 due to injuries and AFCON absentees, leaving Ruben Amorim with no other choice but to call upon youngsters from the academy.
Manchester United and Leeds go head-to-head at Elland Road this Sunday in the Premier League.
Although Leeds have 21 points and lie in 16th place, they’re ‘in-form’ by their own standards following a goalless draw with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool on Thursday night.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said the intensity of Man Utd vs Leeds makes Liverpool games look calm. Is he right?
Of course, United go to Elland Road after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Wolves at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils will be hoping for a repeat of their last meeting with Leeds, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Ruben Amorim will need to depend on different players to provide the goals this time around.
Ruben Amorim sends message to Man Utd youngsters
Amorim has been responsible for handing out first-team debuts to academy players in recent weeks due to the current limitations in his squad.
This has presented multiple players, including Jack Fletcher, with opportunities to prove themselves in the senior team. At the very least, they will all gain from the experience as well as the proud status of being United Academy graduates.
As we approach the trip to Leeds, Amorim is preparing to name his strongest team to secure three points against a club that shares a heated rivalry with the Red Devils.
“We will look to everything but they need to be prepared. You can see the squad, it is impossible and you cannot stretch the players we do not have in the moment,” Amorim told reporters this afternoon.
“But of course I will try to pick the team that is ready to cope with that and then I will try to read the game and understand what I can do to help them to win the game.
“They have to [handle the atmosphere]. It is a game in a hostile environment but they need to be ready. They need to experience that but it is going to be hard for any player – even the guys with a lot of experience but, again, we have already experienced that.
“Bilbao last year was amazing, the sound, I know that feeling is completely different but we need to be ready.”
What is your message to Ruben Amorim ahead of Man Utd’s visit to Leeds?
What does he need to change after the Wolves draw?
Ruben Amorim believes Man Utd are playing better
Although United are missing some key players at the moment, Amorim believes the team is in a better place than it was when he took over as head coach.
Amorim believes United are playing better football and they will be attacking better once the likes of Bryan Mebumo and Amad Diallo return from AFCON.
He added: “We are playing better when we have the full squad we are clearly attacking better. We have not been good enough in the details.
“We should have more points in the moment but of course we are always wanting more and, again, we should have more points in the table.”
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