Ruben Amorim admitted he couldn’t help but think about Mason Mount’s latest injury setback after guiding Manchester United to a stunning 1-0 victory against Manchester City. The Portuguese head coach is the first United manager to win his maiden derby since Sir Alex Ferguson, but he remained grounded after full-time at the Etihad Stadium.
Bruno Fernandes’ 88th-minute penalty and Amad’s show-stealing winner just moments later overturned a deficit inflicted by Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header.
But Mount’s forced withdrawal in the opening stages slightly marred a momentous evening in east Manchester.
Amorim made a bold call by excluding Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from his matchday squad entirely.
Instead, he started Mount alongside Amad in the two advanced positions behind Rasmus Hojlund – a huge show of faith.
However, the 25-year-old lasted just 12 minutes before going to ground off the ball and limping down the tunnel.
Amorim called on Kobbie Mainoo to replace Mount, who could now face his latest spell on the sidelines, having already missed 30 matches since his £60million arrival from Chelsea last year.
And the United boss admitted that rather than thinking about the next game already, concerns about the welfare of Mount dominated his mind instead.
“It’s more the problem with Mason Mount, you think right away,” Amorim told Sky Sports after the final whistle.
“We have a lot of games. We have to continue to win. This will change if we don’t continue to win. He [Mount] fits our style. He’s a very good player inside and also outside the pitch.
“The type of character we want in this team and the club want. He made the movement and stretched his leg. He felt something. But we need him.”
Amorim also expanded on Rashford and Garnacho’s absence, insisting that they weren’t missing for disciplinary reasons.
He added: “Nothing special. Finish one game, start a new week. New week, new life; if they train well, they will compete for a place in the team.
“They are playing because they are talented. We need Rashford and Garnacho. Next week, if they train well like the others, it’s the same for everyone, they will play or be on the bench.
“It was not a disciplinary thing. We have to improve our standards inside and outside the pitch. It was a normal week.”
On Thursday, United will bid to build on their moment when they travel to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
