Manchester United boss explains selection policy ahead of Wolves trip
The latest Manchester United team and injury news.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has been explaining his team selection policy amid several rotations recently.
United travel to Wolves on Boxing Day for the teatime festive kick-off. United will be 13th in the Premier League at Christmas with a minus-goal difference as well. But new boss Amorim will hope to have defender Matthijs de Ligt back available following illness.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Amorim said: “In this moment, it’s not rotation to see the players and prepare the future. It’s simply to not have injuries. Matthijs is sick. Harry Maguire did 90 minutes against [Manchester] City and cannot play three days before because, in three months, he only did 90 minutes one time against City.
"So we have to rotate him during the week and today [Sunday] he is playing. Kobbie Mainoo played, he returned from injury, so I have to think if he’s ready to cope with both games so, sometimes, I have to play two games at the same moment. Rasmus [Hojlund] played two games, the third game today [Sunday] and I think we needed fresh legs.
"So we are trying to address everything. I just want to win games because I know that there’s a long-term project and we are focused on that. But I also know that in big clubs you don’t have a lot of time and you have to win games. So I have a clear idea of the responsibility I have here but I’m trying to manage this team to not have injuries.
"If we have injuries, it’s a massive problem in trying to win games and manage all the players, so I’m not rotating to see the future. I just want to win games and not have injuries. If we have injuries, it’s a big problem.”