Ruben Amorim has explained the reason Joshua Zirkzee was picked to start in place of Rasmus Hojlund against Everton.
Amorim, 39, is set to take charge of his Premier League game at Old Trafford when his side play host to Sean Dyche’s Everton this afternoon.
He will be looking to build on the 3-2 win against Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
Ahead of kick-off fans eagerly anticipated the Red Devils’ starting XI but were surprised when Zirkzee was named as part of the line-up instead of Hojlund, who scored a brace in the week.
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But as per the Express, Amorim insisted the reason for benching Hojlund was ‘squad rotation'.
“It’s impossible to cope with all the games with the same team," Amorim explained.
"We have to be ready, we are changing the way we play. Everybody has to play and everybody has to train.
“It’s impossible in three days to recover all the players. We played in a different game against Bodo/Glimt.
"We press a lot, some players were tired, so I prefer for fresh legs and for different characteristics to be harder for the opponents to understand how we are going to play.
“We have returns like Kobbie Mainoo, one of the best young guys in this league. We have international players like I say all the time, so they are ready to win the game.”
Fans gave their thoughts on social media with many expecting the Dane to be given the nod given his impressive performance last time out.
One said: "People need to lay off Zirkzee.
"It's been a handful of games in one of the worst performing United sides in modern history. If only the patience shown for managers extended to players."
A second added: "Zirkzee this is your moment bro, please take it"
A third commented: "Whatever the rotation is, winning is the only option. Zirkzee had better take his chances."
Zirkzee has struggled to settle since arriving from Bologna in the summer transfer window.
Although he scored the only goal on his debut during a 1-0 win against Fulham on the Premier League's opening night, he has failed to find the net since and has even been linked with a move away from United.
Topics: Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund, Everton, Premier League, Football
Luke Davies