Ruben Amorim has made it clear that Harry Maguire\u2019s physical effort in Manchester United\u2019s FA Cup third-round win at Arsenal on Sunday left him \u201cdead\u201d and declares this as the level of commitment he wants from all of his players.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s attitude as a sterling example to the rest of United\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was sick [ahead of] the last game,\u201d Amorim said. \u201cHe was dead in the end \u2013 that\u2019s what I want from every player.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amorim believes Maguire\u2019s recent upturn in form is due to the defender changing \u201cthe way he sees himself\u201d, adding: \u201cI 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] \u2013 he\u2019s doing a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maguire seems very well suited to Amorim\u2019s three-man central defense but the Portuguese insists he can also be as effective in a two-man rearguard. \u201cHe can do both,\u201d Amorim said. \u201cIt\u2019s really good for him, not just without the ball but with the ball. He\u2019s always in the center. He\u2019s not on the left side or the right side. I think he\u2019s really good with the ball in that position.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the most important thing is Harry. He feels more like an important player in the team. And as a leader. I feel that he\u2019s a leader again. So it\u2019s really important for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maguire is doubtful though for Thursday\u2019s visit by Southampton to Old Trafford, while Diogo Dalot would also be out of action, being suspended following his sending-off against Arsenal. \u201cHarry, we will see,\u201d Amorim said. \u201cDiogo cannot play \u2013 his fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
The head coach also suggested there may be doubts regarding the fitness of Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Amad Diallo or Marcus Rashford. \u201cWe will see the wingers for tomorrow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Garnacho has not been a starter in the Premier League since United\u2019s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest on December 7th and Amorim was asked what the winger has to do to change this.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs to learn to play in a different position,\u201d said the 39-year-old. \u201cHe needs to play better inside [as one of the No 10s]. He has improved a lot in the recovery position when he doesn\u2019t have the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut doing that, sometimes he\u2019s 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\u2019s finding the best way to play in this system. He\u2019s improving during training. He started the last game [at Arsenal]. He changed the way he sees himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201ctraining reasons\u201d and he has subsequently been in only one matchday squad since \u2013 for the 2-0 loss to Newcastle on December 30th \u2013 and may well depart during the current window having made clear his desire for a \u201cnew challenge\u201d.<\/p>\n
Amorim was asked if he hopes for a resolution regarding Rashford\u2019s future sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to win tomorrow [Thursday],\u201d he said. \u201cMy focus is to win \u2013 I will choose the players I think are best to win.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"