Gary Neville has criticized Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, suggesting that he has little faith in strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
This follows Amorim’s decision to bench both players during the match against Crystal Palace, opting instead for Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine. Despite the hefty investment of over £100 million for Hojlund and Zirkzee, the choice to leave them out proved detrimental, as United suffered a 2-0 defeat, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring both goals for Palace.
In his analysis on Sky Sports, Neville stated that Amorim’s decision indicates a lack of confidence in his strikers. He speculated that Amorim might be experimenting with different tactics or simply does not value the current strikers at his disposal.
Neville expressed disappointment upon seeing Mainoo in a forward position, noting that without a recognized goalscorer, Palace would likely feel emboldened. He remarked, “If a team doesn’t look like it can score, it often isn’t right.”
Neville had expected more from United under Amorim’s leadership, believing the players would embrace his tactics and enthusiasm.
However, he noted that performances have deteriorated instead of improving. He warned that continued losses could undermine player morale and faith in Amorim’s vision.
The Sky Sports pundit emphasized the need for Amorim to adapt and utilize the players available to him, regardless of personal preferences.
“It can’t keep going on as it is; they need to start playing better,” Neville concluded, highlighting the urgent need for improvement in Manchester United’s performance.