Benched: Alejandro Garnacho does not start in the Europa League final
Manchester United via Getty Imag
Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to start Mason Mount over Alejandro Garnacho in the Europa League final.
Manchester United are looking to secure a European trophy and Champions League qualification as they take on Tottenham in Bilbao tonight.
They have already been beaten three times by Spurs this season, but neither side goes into the final particularly high on confidence and both have plenty of questions to answer.
Goals have often been a problem for Amorim’s side this season and the United boss had a key decision to make over the two players starting behind striker Rasmus Hojlund.
With Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role alongside Casemiro, Amad Diallo gets the nod on the right, while Amorim has opted for Mason Mount, who scored twice in the second leg of the semi-final win over Athletic Bilbao, on the other flank.
That means Garnacho has to settle for a place on the bench, though Amorim suggested the winger could still have a key role to play off the bench later in the match.
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“I feel that Mason Mount in this moment gives us a different balance,” the United boss said.
“Because he’s really good attacking but also the way he compacts the team, he’s one extra midfielder.
“You know that Tottenham put all the full-backs and midfielders inside with a lot of people overloading that space, so my thinking was to have possession and a right foot in that position is really important.
“And to also have speed on the bench, because we have Amad on the other side. We need to have legs to change the game.”