Ruben Amorim claims that Manchester United's transfer position has not changed despite offloading a number of high earners during the January transfer window.
Amorim's need for reinforcements was obvious going into the winter window but the Red Devils knew they needed to sell in order to buy. Marcus Rashford, Antony and Tyrell Malacia well all sent on loan to ease pressure on the wage bill, with youngsters Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven brought in.
Any fans hoping the floodgates will open this summer after a mid-season reshuffle have been dealt a sobering reality check, however, as Amorim has explained that United are effectively back where they started.
"Here it is simple," he said during his press conference on Friday afternoon. "To do something [in the transfer window], we need to sell players."
Big-ticket players Casemiro, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho were all linked with moves away last month but they will now remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season.
Amorim has been tasked with implementing a 3-4-3 system, which is unfamiliar to United's players, during a busy winter schedule. Mercifully for the new United boss, the fixture list has thinned out, and he will have had more than a week to prepare for Sunday's trip to Tottenham by the time kick-off rolls around.
But not everything has gone the manager's way since a stoppage-time Harry Maguire header saw off Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round. Amorim has hinted around injury issues at Carrington without being specific about which players are affected.
"It was a good week until two days ago," said the Portuguese. "We have one or two issues, but we are waiting [for more information]. We have one player who is sick, so we will see the team at the weekend."
At the start of the season, punters would have been given long odds for United and Spurs to sit 13th and 14th at this stage of the campaign. Amorim can appreciate the comparisons drawn between himself and opposite number Ange Postecoglou, but the 40-year-old believes he faces an even more strenuous task.
"I’m a huge fan of Ange Postecoglou," he said. "I can understand the connection between me and Ange. We have the same problems. In my opinion, with all due respect, I am in a bigger club with bigger pressure. I understand the pressure and I think it’s important for the coach to follow their principles."
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