Ruben Amorim made the decision to substitute Alejandro Garnacho during Manchester United's Europa League stalemate with Real Sociedad because of the player's tiredness in defence. Despite several attempts on goal, Garnacho has now gone 22 matches without finding the back of the net, a stark contrast to his early season form where he scored eight times in his first 20 games.
The winger was replaced by Christian Eriksen in the 78th minute at Reale Arena, shortly after Mikel Oyarzabal levelled the score and ignited Sociedad's most potent attacking phase. "I felt he (Garnacho) was tired," Amorim explained. "And you see it because we did a lot of transitions in the second half because sometimes he was late to defend. And sometimes he's in a good position to transition but I felt he was tired to recover and do the same things. I look at the game as a whole and not just in transitions."
United had 13 shots at goal, but only five were on target, leading Amorim to lament their inability to extend their lead in a match they seemed to be controlling until Bruno Fernandes was penalised for handball following a VAR review.
"We are creating chances but sometimes you don't see it in the xG (expected goals) because we manage not to shoot but the great opportunity is there and you can see it," Amorim added. "We have transitions, we have situations and sometimes we are missing something."
"That can change something, especially in these kind of games that we need goals that can make a difference."
Amorim expressed his delight for goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee, who netted his sixth for United just days after missing the crucial penalty against Fulham in the FA Cup fifth-round shootout. "He deserved it because he is working really well," Amorim effused.
"He's improving a lot of things in his game, he deserved this moment and he was really important for us today."
This story originally appeared on the MEN