Manchester United’s season-decider, quite literally, will be the Europa League final against Spurs and Ruben Amorim has been boosted by the surprise return of a key player.
For Manchester United, the Europa League final doesn’t just decide this season, but also the fate of the next one and how arduous the rebuild is.
Therefore, Ruben Amorim needs all the help he can get for the biggest occasion, especially to solve some of his major headaches.
Fortunately, a surprise Man Utd return seems to have solved the biggest headache ahead of the final. It could have a huge impact.
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Man Utd boosted by surprise Joshua Zirkzee return
Nobody can doubt the commitment of the players this season after Amad rubbished initial injury diagnoses to return well ahead of the end of the season.
The same seems to have been accomplished by Joshua Zirkzee, who was seen in Man Utd training ahead of the final.
Zirkzee’s injury was also talked about as a season-ending issue when it occurred but much like potentially Diogo Dalot, he was doing all he can to return.
It is highly unlikely that Zirkzee will start the game after being out for so long but his return solves Ruben Amorim’s biggest headache just by virtue of having numbers, never mind the quality.
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Before his injury, Zirkzee looked like he had permanently shifted to No. 10 position behind the striker and was playing the best football of his short Man Utd career.
However, in the Europa League final, if he makes an appearance, it’s a fair bet to make that it will be at a position he had left behind.
That’s what the team needs.
Zirkzee’s return provides Rasmus Hojlund alternative
Most of United’s XI for the final picks itself and Amorim also hinted that he played a strong XI against Chelsea so not many changes should be expected from that one.
However, Hojlund’s disaster against Chelsea threw a renewed spotlight on him amid calls for him to be dropped for the final.
The Dane has been a shadow of his best self, not even being anonymous anymore, but actively hurting his own team with his bad form.
Before Zirkzee’s return, Amorim had no choice but to stick with the player or imbalance the whole team with a tactical tweak which would see United play without a natural striker.
That kind of a tactical risk is not advised for a European final so Zirkzee allowed Amorim to make a like-for-like substitution.
Zirkzee didn’t set the world alight while playing as a striker but at this moment, any Hojlund alternative will do just to mix things up.
The Dutchman’s return couldn’t be better timed.