“We needed Josh to go out,” Ruben Amorim responds to Joshua Zirkzee criticism as striker left frustrated with manager’s decision

Ruben Amorim clarifies the decision to take off Joshua Zirkzee in the 33rd minute of the clash against Newcastle United.

Joshua Zirkzee, image courtesy: X

Manchester United had another serious dent to their ailing Premier League campaign as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United. During the match, Ruben Amorim made a surprise change, substituting Joshua Zirkzee in the 33^rd minute of the game with Kobbie Mainoo.

As speculations started rising about this substitution of Joshua Zirkzee, Manchester United boss, Ruben Amorim cleared the air around it. Talking in the post-match presser, Amorim highlighted at that particular moment that Zirkzee had to step out in order to accommodate Mainoo.

I felt the team was suffering and needed another midfielder to have more and then we started to have more ball with Kobbie Mainoo. But it was really, really tough on me to do that and I talked with Josh about that because it’s important to express the message. But I’m always thinking about the team and, in that moment, it was important for the team [for] Josh [to] go out.
Ruben Amorim said in the post-match presser

?❗️Rúben Amorim on Zirkzee: “Josh is a really good lad. We will support him and keep going”.

“It was really tough for me to do that, but I've spoken to Josh as it was important to express the message. We needed Josh to go out, for the team”. pic.twitter.com/opEoK0vz8F
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 31, 2024

Manchester United’s woes kept on rising as they dropped down to 14^th position, losing four out of the last five games. Alexander Isak scored in the 4^th minute to propel Newcastle United to a slender lead. Furthermore, Joelinton scored in the 19^th to compound the lead and secure the game.

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Former Manchester United academy talent heaps massive praise on Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo’s inclusion in the team saw United against Newcastle United reshaping in fine fashion. With Mainoo taking the yard, there was a renewed vim and vigour exhibited by Manchester United. Such was his charisma that he drew praise from former Manchester United academy talent Danny Webber, who is currently working as a pundit for MUTV.

Joshua Zirkzee — Kobbie Mainoo, image courtesy: X

When Kobbie came on, I thought he was bright for us….he came out fighting, he wanted the ball. You start to get your little wins as a result of competing with more vigor. And Kobbie, he was in there. He was all over Tonali, he was making challenges. He wants it, and it sets the tone then. But that’s got to be the tone from the beginning of the game.
Danny Webber saw on MUTV

Manchester United will be starting 2025 with a clash against the formidable Liverpool, who are currently the league leaders. With a win against Manchester City, Ruben Amorim will be trying to pull off a similar heist. However, with the chips down and the United players hardly making it count, it is only going to be a tougher task for the Red Devils.