Ruben Amorim didn’t get the response he would have hoped for from his players as Manchester United made it consecutive losses after a 2-3 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
This marks Ruben Amorim’s first defeat at home as Man Utd manager and it’s only the second time in his career that he has lost back-to-back top-flight league games.
Amorim had warned of a “storm” coming and on a day when there was a literal storm on the horizon, the figurative one also greeted the Man Utd squad.
Still, amidst the hubris, one player emerged with his reputation enhanced and according to Owen Hargreaves, cemented himself as the only ‘undroppable’ in the team.
Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United, reacts with Amad Diallo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester Unit...
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Owen Hargreaves names the only Man Utd undroppable
Ruben Amorim’s theme at Manchester United can so far be summed up in one word and that is “rotation”.
The manager hasn’t named an unchanged team so far and recently admitted that with time, there will be glimpses of a settled first-choice XI.
When the teamsheet dropped for the Forest game, it had the look of a side that was close to being his ideal one but the result might have forced a rethink.
His team selection against Viktoria Plzen and then Manchester City, two very different calibre of opponents, should give the biggest hint yet of how he sees each player in his squad.
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Regardless of what he does in either game, Hargreaves believes one player has become an undisputed fixture in the best XI at Old Trafford after the Forest game.
Hargreaves said: “You couldn’t pick their best team right now. It changes all the time. Ruben Amorim doesn’t have a settled back three, it changes every game. His ideal back three in my opinion is Mazraoui-Yoro-Martinez.
“The midfield changes every time, Mainoo did well today. Rashford, I think is only a squad option right now. Man Utd have only one undroppable and that is Amad.”
Hargreaves’ broad sentiment is correct that Amad is undroppable right now but it would be surprising if he was the only one.
Is Amad the only undroppable under Ruben Amorim?
Right away, the captain is missing from that list. Hargreaves was amazed that Bruno Fernandes was subbed off vs Forest and rightly so because he was doing well.
Then, despite Andre Onana’s nightmare display vs Forest, it would be a foolish argument to make for dropping him in favour of Altay Bayindir.
In defence, Matthijs de Ligt, who doesn’t even make Hargreaves’ ideal back three, is among the few outfielders to have started every game for Amorim so far.
His subbing vs Forest indicates he’ll continue that streak against Plzen in the Europa League too.
The players under threat to their positions are plenty but in this rotation game, some players clearly preferred by Amorim over others are beginning to emerge.
Amad is undoubtedly one of them and probably be top of that list but he’s not the only one. If anything, Man Utd fans should hope more join him there because that would mean the performance levels of multiple players are undeniable.
Forest game was a missed opportunity for that lot.
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