Former Manchester United and England striker Andy Cole has dropped a telling verdict on a player that Ruben Amorim inherited from Erik ten Hag last season.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United reign as manager came to an end in the 2024-25 campaign and the 55-year-old former Ajax boss was axed by the Red Devils.
Ineos handed the soon-to-be Bayer Leverkusen head coach a new contract last summer and Ten Hag received several new signings in the 2024 summer window.
Ten Hag’s exit from Old Trafford opened the door for Ruben Amorim’s arrival from Sporting CP last November and the current United manager has faced an uphill battle.
United’s form continued to dwindle in the Premier League campaign and the Red Devils limped to 15th place in the table at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Amorim has now received his first major opportunity to overhaul the current United first-team squad that he inherited from former Red Devils boss Ten Hag last season.
Andy Cole’s feelings are clear on Joshua Zirkzee’s role at Old Trafford under Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim
Joshua Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford as part of Ineos’ 2024 summer spending spree and Manchester United signed him in a deal worth £36.54m from Bologna.
However, the 24-year-old United striker struggled to impress in his debut season and Joshua Zirkzee faced immense pressure over his lack of goalscoring output.
Zirkzee only managed to score seven times and registered three assists in 49 matches across all competitions for United in the 2024-25 campaign.
Andy Cole believes that Zirkzee isn’t suited for the No 9 role and has urged him to “stick to the basics,” with the same advice offered to Rasmus Hojlund.
“You know Zirkzee, same thing, I don’t think for me personally he is number nine,” he told The Obi One Podcast.
“I don’t think personally he is going to get you 25 goals, but just stick to the basics.
“Whatever got you playing well at Bologna and your national team and got Man United to sign you, just keep doing that, and then you go from there.”
Ruben Amorim must act on Andy Cole’s advice and reinvent Joshua Zirkzee as a player for Man Utd
Joshua Zirkzee was praised for his link-up play last season, but the Dutch forward’s struggles were only intensified with Rasmus Hojlund’s poor run of form as well.
Amorim’s tactical system for United requires two No 10s and Zirkzee could be pivoted away from a striker role to play in support of the sole forward.
United are linked with signing a new striker this summer and it seems that Zirkzee’s first-team minutes could be further limited if he can’t be adapted to other roles.
While Zirkzee lacks the ruthless finishing ability of a conventional striker, there is no denying that his ability to link up play could be useful in the ‘right’ role for Amorim.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/NTKJbDU