Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim issued a warning to a handful of his players while hailing Noussair Mazraoui after Thursday’s Europa League win against Bodo/Glimt. Amorim enjoyed a victorious Old Trafford debut after Rasmus Hojlund’s latest European masterclass powered the hosts to a 3-2 win.
The 21-year-old striker scored his seventh and eighth goals in nine starts in European competition since joining United.
He also created Alejandro Garnacho’s first-minute opener by forcing a mistake by Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin with a panic-inducing moment of pressing.
However, Hojlund wasn’t the only name on United supporters’ and other spectators’ lips at full-time. Mazraoui bolstered his reputation as one of the signings of the summer.
The £13million defender excelled as Amorim’s right-sided centre-back and produced a touch-perfect dribble and cross for Hojlund’s equaliser on the brink of half-time.
Mazraoui is the current hot favourite for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award, most closely opposed by the much-improved Andre Onana.
Amorim’s change of system sparked questions over whether the Moroccan would fit, given one of his wing-backs is a traditional winger.
But the United boss warned Amad, Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw by expressing how crucial Mazraoui is in his early plans in M16.
And Amorim’s comments could even threaten Lisandro Martinez’s status as a regular starter, given how well Mazraoui has also covered on the left so far this term.
“He’s an incredible player. He’s our future because he played in a different position [but] he always looks fresh,” Amorim hailed after full-time.
“But we have to be careful [because] there are a lot of games. He’s here to stay. This kind of player is what we need.”
The Portuguese coach also stressed the importance of his first victory, which moved United up to 12th in the Europa League table, one point within the top eight.
He added: “The win is always more important [than the performance]. It’s not everything, but at the moment, the win is more important.
“When you are in a club like our club, you have to win first, and then we will reach a point where the win is not enough. You have to play well because you are Manchester United.
“So we have to manage all of these things without training, but I felt the same. We have a lot to improve, but we’ve improved already since the Ipswich game.”
Amorim will seek further improvements when Everton visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.
