Ruben Amorim says Benjamin Sesko, Harry Maguire and two other United stars are injury doubts for the next game, but Matheus Cunha is back.
The Manchester United head coach was speaking to the press in the pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s Premier League tie against West Ham United.
The first question was about social media.
“They are talking about Manchester,” Amorim said. “Not because I don’t agree. Most of the times I agree with a lot of things that you say, guys. But it’s a way of me being healthy because it’s enough when we lose, when we draw, when I know that we play bad, my feeling as a coach is enough. I don’t need another feelings around the club.”
“For me, the only way, there is no other way. The only way is to protect myself. Of course, I lose money in sponsors. In Instagram, I could win a lot of money. But for me, the quality of life, the protection of my family, the way I can live a normal life, because I guarantee you, I live a normal life, It’s not worth it.”
“Some more dollars or pounds is not worth it. So I protect myself. No one can be tougher than me when we lose and when we don’t play well. That is the only way, but nowadays, it’s really normal to have that abuse. For me, it’s the only way to survive in this world.”
The second question related to injury issues.
“We have two doubts for the game,” Amorim admitted. “I will not tell you today because we’ll change the way we are going to approach. Let’s see if they can play tomorrow. But the rest of the squad is good. Mateus [Cunha] is back, but I have two players that maybe they cannot play. Harry Maguire is still out. And Sesko.”
The next question was how Amorim views Cunha’s start to his United career.
“I think he has more levels to go;” he answered. “He’s in the different club. Different pressure, but I think he coped with that really well. He was struggling because he was not scoring and because of social media abuse. He was thinking too much about the numbers, but the influence that he has in the team is so important for us. But I think Cunha has so much to grow defensively and offensively.”
Leny Yoro was the next topic. The reporter noted how unhappy the Frenchman looked when he was substituted against Crystal Palace.
“It’s really important;” Amorim said. “Of course, I also spoke with him because he thinks too much. He makes some mistakes in the game, and then he struggles because he’s too young, and he wants to do everything so well. And he’s growing. He’s growing in one moment that everyone here is growing with games, with setbacks.”
“So it’s not easy for him as a young guy. Of course, he cannot give that to the people, the way he came to the bench. So he understands that, but he was really frustrated. On the good side, it shows that he cares, and he was knowing that was not the best game, but he did some things well, and I show him that also. So he’s fit and ready for the next challenge.”
This was followed by a reporter asking “I know we’ve asked you a few times about Shea Lacy, and it seems like he could be getting closer potentially to a debut. You’ve talked a lot about the players playing for Manchester United, the pressure it comes with. Just wonder how ready do you think he is for that limelight? How do you prepare young players for that attention that they’ll receive once they start playing in the first day?”
Amorim replied:
“First of all, trying to explain every day how to play, because if you are comfortable in the way, you have no many doubts when you are playing, that will help the kids to play.”
“Then is to work the physicality, to understand that when he’s training with us, give him time with us, to understand that the speed of the pressure, the moments to have the ball, to pass the ball is completely different if you compare to Under 21. That is the only way that I know how to prepare a kid to play for a club, especially for this club. We will have to go there to have the chance. I don’t know when, but he’s ready to play.”
The presser is ongoing, refresh the page regularly as we bring you updates.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social