Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has suggested that one of two reasons might be behind Ruben Amorim’s decision not to utilise two Manchester United players more effectively.
Manchester United languish in 13th place in the Premier League table after their 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Red Devils are 14 points off the top four and United are 12 points clear of the relegation zone amid their disappointing 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
Ruben Amorim has continued to face a challenge with securing consistent results in the Premier League, with United only winning eight league matches this season.
However, the 40-year-old United manager has found success with the Red Devils’ Europa League campaign, with the club reaching the last 16 of the competition.
Neville on two Man Utd players under Amorim
Jean-Philippe Mateta netted twice for Crystal Palace in the second half at Old Trafford on the weekend and the Eagles walked away with all three points.
However, Manchester United did impress in the first half of the 2-0 defeat under Ruben Amorim, who shook up his tactics for the Premier League match.
Amorim made the big call to leave Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund on the bench and deployed Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine against Palace.
Kobbie Mainoo impressed in the opening stages of the contest and the United midfielder nearly scored in the first half, only to see his effort hit the post.
The 19-year-old United midfielder’s influence waned as the match went on before Amorim took Mainoo off and replaced him with Rasmus Hojlund.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Gary Neville Podcast, Gary Neville revealed why he felt that Joshua Zirkzee and Hojlund did not make the Red Devils starting XI.
“The only thing I can think is that it’s one of two things,” he said.
“Maybe it’s experimenting to the point whereby he’s just trying to find a solution that works and he likes and a system he wants to play. Or he doesn’t like the strikers he’s got.
“When I saw the team sheet, I thought [Bruno] Fernandes would play in that position or [Alejandro] Garnacho. When I saw Kobbie up there, everything has to be absolutely perfect.
“From Palace’s point of view, they would fancy that because there’s no real goalscorer in the team.
“I’m not saying if Hojlund was up there, they’d panic, but at least then there’s a physical presence. Zirzkee is a big lad.
“I’m not saying they’re brilliant these players, but when I saw the team, I thought Palace will fancy this and I can’t really see how United will score. Where’s it going to come from? If a team doesn’t look like it quite often isn’t right.
“I thought it would get better when Ruben Amorim came in, I thought they’d buy into his enthusiasm and the system.”
Neville reacts to Hojlund and Zirzkee
Both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench at the same time for United and the two Red Devils strikers failed to make an impact against Palace.
Hojlund and Zirkzee have both been met with heavy criticism over their form and lack of goalscoring output for the Red Devils this season.
Neville argued that United manager Amorim will have to use the “players he’s been served,” irrespective of whether or not he likes them for his tactical system.
“We’ve seen the absolute opposite, it’s got a lot worse and that’s surprising,” he added.
“There’s going to be a lot more pain towards the end of the season, I think.
“They’re obviously going to stick with Amorim, but the more you lose, the harder it becomes for the players to buy into the manager and his ideas. You can’t keep losing, it will depress the players and make them lose faith.
“He has to do something but he can’t change his approach now. He won’t be enjoying this but I think he’s got to simplify it, while he might not like Hojlund, he might not think Zirkzee is great, he might not like other players, but he’s got to pick the players he has, the players he’s been served.
“It can’t keep going on as it is, they need to start to play better but where is that coming from?
“At this moment in time, it’s a very sorry situation watching Manchester United play.”
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