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Ruben Amorim wants Manchester United players to follow leadership example set by Harry Maguire

Ruben Amorim has made it clear that Harry Maguire’s physical effort in Manchester United’s FA Cup third-round win at Arsenal on Sunday left him “dead” and declares this as the level of commitment he wants from all of his players.

Maguire performance clearly stood out in the victory, via a penalty shoot-out, at the Emirates Stadium, which came on the back of the defender having been ill in the days prior. Amorim pointed to the 31-year-old’s attitude as a sterling example to the rest of United’s squad.

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“He was sick [ahead of] the last game,” Amorim said. “He was dead in the end – that’s what I want from every player.”

Amorim believes Maguire’s recent upturn in form is due to the defender changing “the way he sees himself”, adding: “I believe a lot in Harry. I said this when he signed the new contract [earlier this month]. You can see the way he plays now is different because he believes a lot in himself. We have to praise Harry more than me [for this] – he’s doing a great job.”

Maguire seems very well suited to Amorim’s three-man central defense but the Portuguese insists he can also be as effective in a two-man rearguard. “He can do both,” Amorim said. “It’s really good for him, not just without the ball but with the ball. He’s always in the center. He’s not on the left side or the right side. I think he’s really good with the ball in that position.

“But the most important thing is Harry. He feels more like an important player in the team. And as a leader. I feel that he’s a leader again. So it’s really important for us.”

Maguire is doubtful though for Thursday’s visit by Southampton to Old Trafford, while Diogo Dalot would also be out of action, being suspended following his sending-off against Arsenal. “Harry, we will see,” Amorim said. “Diogo cannot play – his fault.”

The head coach also suggested there may be doubts regarding the fitness of Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Amad Diallo or Marcus Rashford. “We will see the wingers for tomorrow,” he said.

Garnacho has not been a starter in the Premier League since United’s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest on December 7th and Amorim was asked what the winger has to do to change this.

“He needs to learn to play in a different position,” said the 39-year-old. “He needs to play better inside [as one of the No 10s]. He has improved a lot in the recovery position when he doesn’t have the ball.

“But doing that, sometimes he’s not in the right place to make transitions like he was in the past. I prefer to defend and then build up with all the team to reach the final third. He’s finding the best way to play in this system. He’s improving during training. He started the last game [at Arsenal]. He changed the way he sees himself.”

Meanwhile, Rashford has not featured for United since the 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12th. Following this game, Amorim dropped the forward for “training reasons” and he has subsequently been in only one matchday squad since – for the 2-0 loss to Newcastle on December 30th – and may well depart during the current window having made clear his desire for a “new challenge”.

Amorim was asked if he hopes for a resolution regarding Rashford’s future sooner rather than later.

“I just want to win tomorrow [Thursday],” he said. “My focus is to win – I will choose the players I think are best to win.”