Chido Obi has played in Man United's recent first team games but was not added to their Europa League squad.
Comments
Sport
Chido Obi was not named in United's Europa League squad
Chido Obi was not named in United's Europa League squad
Ruben Amorim suggested Manchester United would have included striker Chido Obi in their Europa League squad in different circumstances.
United added January signings Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu to their revised squad for the knockout stage, along with academy midfielder Jack Fletcher, but striker Obi was omitted.
Obi joined United from Arsenal's academy in the summer and could not be added to the Uefa B list as he has not spent two years in the United academy. Fletcher has not, either, having arrived from Manchester City with his twin brother, Tyler, in August 2023.
After United submitted the updated squad on February 6, Obi plundered a hat-trick for the academy in their 5-1 FA Youth Cup thrashing of Chelsea. He then made his first-team debut at Tottenham four days later and has played twice since.
Senior strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have scored only 12 goals between them this season. Hojlund has gone 18 games without a goal and Zirkzee has got one goal in 16 games.
"It’s a different context in that moment," Amorim said. "Rasmus and Josh were playing in the same position so you try to manage all the things, even the expectations of the kids. The context was completely different and we choose a different player."
Fletcher has not travelled to San Sebastian for the Europa League round-of-16 first leg against Real Sociedad despite the absence of midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
Harry Maguire has also missed the trip, having come off before extra time in the FA Cup fifth round defeat to Fulham on Sunday. Amorim stressed both players are absent with "small issues".
Harry Amass has been included in the 18-man squad when United are permitted to name 23 players in their matchday squad. Amass, 17, has still not made his United debut, despite a string of impressive performances during the pre-season tour of the United States.
Amorim wanted Amass in the squad against Fulham but the left back played 120 minutes in United's 3-2 victory over Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup 48 hours earlier.
"He (Jack Fletcher) didn’t train with us and he had a game before Fulham. Amass is here today, in the last game against Fulham we want Amass also but because he played all the game against Arsenal he was not in our squad.
"We try to manage all the teams there and try to imagine the substitutions and we know to bring some players is a big step and we are taking care of the expectation of the kids.
"When I put the squad, I see the players I have that trained with us and I imagine the substitutions, that’s why I sometimes call it one or two. And then I try to see when they train with us, and then I see if they can come here to play or to be on the bench and for you guys to be seeing a lot of youth.
"I know it’s a big step for them and I am trying to cope with everything. So when I do my squad I try to think in every aspect in a formation of a kid, our squad and not what will look really well with the fans and the media.
"We have a lot of experience. Matthijs (de Ligt, next to Amorim at the press conference) is a young player but he has a lot of experience.
"We are ready because the good thing to play in Premier League is we are ready for everything. It is a big challenge, we are going to face a very good team, really intense, with a lot of experience, international players.
"But we are ready because we face that every week."