Ruben Amorim has reportedly annoyed a minority in his Manchester United squad with unprecedented rotation since taking charge last month. However, the Portuguese head coach will likely continue to ruffle feathers in tonight’s Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzen in Czechia as the fixtures mount.
The pressure for results is also snowballing after back-to-back Premier League losses against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest last week.
United will have lost three successive league matches for the first time since December 2015 if Sunday’s derby at Manchester City also ends in defeat.
But Amorim has repeated the importance of his rotation policy after walking into a schedule of games every few days.
He has the task of reprogramming a squad shaped by Erik ten Hag into his own vision with minimal time on the Carrington training pitches.
The 39-year-old has admitted that he must utilise United’s games as training sessions. His relentless rotational habits are the proof.
Amorim has started 20 different players and used all 25 of his available substitutions across his opening five matches since switching Lisbon for Manchester.
United’s last four outings have involved 23 changes, an apparent attempt to keep players fresh as much as to give everyone a chance to impress and adapt to a new system.
The Red Devils’ results have suffered. Wins against Bodo/Glimt and Everton have been sandwiched between a draw at Ipswich Town and defeats to Arsenal and Forest.
But the boss himself has made it clear that he is willing to suffer short-term to ensure his side doesn’t plateau like Ten Hag’s by playing it safe.
The Manchester Evening News claim at least one player has complained about Amorim’s early tendency to chop and change his team.
He is doing it for a reason, though, and will risk heightening that discontent against Plzen at the Doosan Arena as United aim to breach the Europa League’s top eight.
With a trip to the Etihad Stadium to come later this week, it would be more of a surprise if Amorim didn’t sanction several switches.
Altay Bayindir, Noussair Mazraoui, Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire, Antony, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee all didn’t start against Forest.
Malacia’s involvement in the pre-match press conference hints at his return, while the other nine have started at least one of Amorim’s games at the helm.
More changes in defence, midfield and attack – and potentially in goal after Andre Onana’s nightmare last time out – are certainly on the cards.
Predicted Man Utd XI vs Viktoria Plzen
Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez; Antony, Casemiro, Fernandes, Malacia; Mount, Rashford, Zirkzee
