Ally McCoist names two Manchester United players who won't be successful under Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim will be eager to make changes to the Manchester United squad over the coming transfer windows
Former Scotland international Ally McCoist believes that Christian Eriksen and Casemiro will struggle to provide the “legs” in midfield for Manchester United moving forward under Ruben Amorim.
The ex-Sporting CP manager was appointed as Erik ten Hag’s replacement last month and has won three of his six games in charge. Two of those have come in the Europa League with the other against Everton in the Premier League. He drew his opening fixture 1-1 at Ipswich Town and has lost at Arsenal and against Nottingham Forest. Speaking about what United should focus on when trying to improve, McCoist argues that Amorim needs more pace and energy in the midfield engine room. He told talkSPORT: “Ruben Amorim has to get legs into that Manchester United midfield, whether it’s Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte.
“Christian Eriksen and Casemiro are fantastic players, but they’re both reaching a stage in their careers where they’re starting to dip. It happens to us all, and it will continue to happen; there’s no avoiding it. In Amorim’s system, you need legs to cover that midfield area. United aren’t covering as much ground as the opposition, which is a damning statistic. It’s evident that Amorim has to get some energy and quality into those two central midfield positions.”
Eriksen is out of contract at Old Trafford come the end of the season and reports have claimed that the Denmark international will not be offered fresh terms at the club. Casemiro is still under contract until the end of the 2025-26 campaign but was strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford during the most recent transfer window.
On who could thrive under Amorim, McCoist added: “I think Kobbie Mainoo can make that difference in regard to bringing more energy into the team. I would be really surprised if he’s not a starter in Amorim’s team next season; he offers so much quality and works hard in and out of possession. As a team, it’s easier to accept a loss if it’s down to individual mistakes, but when you’re getting outrun, that’s not a valid excuse in my book. Mainoo could really improve United’s performance in that area.”