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Ruben Amorim explains playing Kobbie Mainoo as a striker after Man Utd lose to Crystal Palace
Kobbie Mainoo started as a striker as Man Utd lost to Crystal Palace (Photo: Getty) Ruben Amorim has explained his bizarre decision to start Kobbie Mainoo as a striker in Manchester United’s 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday. United’s awful run of form in the Premier League continued at Old Trafford as a Jean-Philippe Mateta brace condemned them to a seventh defeat in 11 games. There was great surprise when the lineups were announced, with neither Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee in the Red Devils starting XI. Both have been severely criticised this season but their absence meant United did not have a natural centre-forward on the pitch. It was assumed that one of Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho or Amad Diallo would start up top but as the game kicked-off it was Mainoo who was playing as the No.9. The unusual tactic started off really well as the England midfielder struck the post in the opening minutes but the Eagles’ defence quickly sussed what was what and limited his impact for much of the game. The 19-year-old was subbed off in the 70th minute, with United registering just two shots on target. Palace’s defence largely kept Mainoo quiet (Photo: Getty) Traditionally a box-to-box midfielder, Mainoo did play in a more advanced role in United’s 2-0 Europa League win over FCSB, where he scored the second goal. Defending the tactical change in his post-match press conference, Amorim said: ‘Today we decided to play with Kobbie, it’s not against Rasmus or Josh. ‘Sometimes the team creates situations by using the right characteristics. It’s not because you play with two scorers that you’re going to score more goals. Jean-Philippe Mateta bagged a brace against Man Utd (Photo: Getty) ‘It’s a collective problem. We have to improve in all aspects of the game.’ Speaking before kick-off, Amorim explained his lineup, telling Premier League Productions: ‘Try to play in different positions, to create some danger. We also want to improve the way we take the game in the last third – we need to have more possession. ‘I like him [Mainoo] with the ball. Sometimes you have more space in the build-up phase. ‘I think he’s a good player because he can hold the ball. He is very good one against one and he is creative. We need creativity in the last third.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ruben Amorim has explained his bizarre decision to start Kobbie Mainoo as a striker in Manchester United’s 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
United’s awful run of form in the Premier League continued at Old Trafford as a Jean-Philippe Mateta brace condemned them to a seventh defeat in 11 games.
There was great surprise when the lineups were announced, with neither Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee in the Red Devils starting XI.
Both have been severely criticised this season but their absence meant United did not have a natural centre-forward on the pitch.
It was assumed that one of Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho or Amad Diallo would start up top but as the game kicked-off it was Mainoo who was playing as the No.9.
The unusual tactic started off really well as the England midfielder struck the post in the opening minutes but the Eagles’ defence quickly sussed what was what and limited his impact for much of the game.
The 19-year-old was subbed off in the 70th minute, with United registering just two shots on target.
Traditionally a box-to-box midfielder, Mainoo did play in a more advanced role in United’s 2-0 Europa League win over FCSB, where he scored the second goal.
Defending the tactical change in his post-match press conference, Amorim said: ‘Today we decided to play with Kobbie, it’s not against Rasmus or Josh.
‘Sometimes the team creates situations by using the right characteristics. It’s not because you play with two scorers that you’re going to score more goals.
‘It’s a collective problem. We have to improve in all aspects of the game.’
Speaking before kick-off, Amorim explained his lineup, telling Premier League Productions: ‘Try to play in different positions, to create some danger. We also want to improve the way we take the game in the last third – we need to have more possession.
‘I like him [Mainoo] with the ball. Sometimes you have more space in the build-up phase.
‘I think he’s a good player because he can hold the ball. He is very good one against one and he is creative. We need creativity in the last third.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
