Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim gave an honest verdict about his selection for the Europa League final after overseeing a defeat away to Chelsea on Friday
Ruben Amorim during Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea
Ruben Amorim believes he learned from Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea
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Image: Getty Images)
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Fair play to the very likeable Ruben Amorim for trying to put some sort of positive spin on another Premier League defeat, Manchester United’s 18th of the season. “This performance has helped me a lot to choose the starting 11 for the (Europa League) final,” he said, with a touch of grim humour, no doubt.
And his team selection for the loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge suggested there were one or two players on trial for Bilbao, most notably Mason Mount, who must be under consideration for a starting role against Spurs in Spain. Other players ‘on trial’ must have included Rasmus Hojlund but his trial is a long-running affair.
When you hear the likes of Roy Keane laying into the Danish striker, it is hard not to feel a twinge of sympathy for Hojlund. The centre-piece of Keane’s dismantling of the United striker came when he said Hojlund “looked like he had just come out of the academy.”
Brutal. And there is no escaping the startling ineffectiveness of a forward who cost in excess of £70million and only looks as though he is going to score if one hits him and goes in, as it did against Athletic Bilbao recently.
But even if Hojlund appears to have a particularly thick skin, it is tough to see a pile-on, and it might be in the player’s interests to look for an extended spell on loan in Europe next season, to rebuild his confidence. Let’s face it, no-one is going to pay big money for a permanent transfer.
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In the meantime, Amorim has a big decision to make, the sort of big decision managers are paid the big bucks for. As the alternatives are very limited, it would seem likely that Hojlund will start, especially as he has been a feature of the run to the final.
But, essentially, on Wednesday, it is a Premier League match, albeit one against a Premier League team that is actually worse than United. And Hojlund is showing nothing that suggests he can hurt Spurs.
Rasmus Hojlund during Chelsea vs Manchester United
Rasmus Hojlund had another tough night ( Image: Getty Images)
Would it be a big call to leave Hojlund out? Not really. Probably not even as big as when Pep Guardiola left Kyle Walker out of the 2023 Champions League final.
Immediately after the loss at Chelsea, there were United fans on social media suggesting Harry Maguire would be a more viable starting option upfront. Maguire will be needed at the back but, such are Hojlund’s struggles, you take the point. And an elite manager is paid to come up with different strategies. Starting Kobbie Mainoo - who seems to have a keener eye for goal than Hojlund - as a false nine would be one.
Wednesday’s final might actually be more significant for Ange Postecoglou than it is for Amorim, who stays at United regardless. But it will still tell us a lot about Amorim and his willingness to make the big, bold decision. It will still tell us a lot about whether Amorim is truly the man for the job.
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