Ruben Amorim: Man Utd boss explains choice to play Harry Maguire as makeshift ahead amid attacking struggles

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has defined his choice to play defender Harry Maguire as a makeshift ahead within the ultimate moments of the defeat to Nottingham Forest. 

United suffered a 1-0 defeat to third-placed Forest on the Metropolis Floor, due to Anthony Elanga’s first-half effort towards his former aspect, however got here near equalising via Maguire with just about the final kick of the sport.

The substitute climbed off the bench within the 88th minute and poked his effort in direction of aim, solely to see it cleared off the road by Murillo with seconds to go within the recreation.

“In the end of the game, when the opponent is protecting the box, they are comfortable,” Amorim stated in his post-match press convention.

“We will attain the ultimate third however we’ve got to place the ball into the field, as it’s exhausting to make the mixtures. Harry Maguire, when he’s attacking set items, is possibly the most effective participant within the staff.

“Inside the box, you are not a defender, you are a striker. Put one man who is really good in there to score the goal.”

United had a complete of 23 photographs on the night, six of them being on track, however had been unable to name Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels into any type of significant motion till he was crushed by Maguire’s effort, solely to be rescued by the well timed boot of team-mate Murillo.

When requested about United’s struggles in entrance of aim, Amorim continued: “That is clear. We created some chances but we could create more with the possession we had.

“We reached the ultimate third numerous instances however we should be higher. It is very important rating targets and we’ve got a scarcity of targets.

“We put Forest in the place they wanted to be. They have fast players in transitions, we pushed forward but in the final third, we were not good enough.”

Man Utd strikers flatter to deceive

Sky Sports activities’ Lewis Jones:

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund stay a scorching matter of debate for Manchester United after the pair flattered to deceive with their output but once more within the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Zirkzee performed 78 minutes on the Metropolis Floor and didn’t have a shot, register a contact within the Forest penalty space or create a single likelihood for his team-mates. The sport appeared to move him by as the same old protagonists for United when it comes to making issues occur in Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho led the cost on that entrance.

Zirkzee is now with no aim within the Premier League since December 1.

That is 17 appearances in the past.

Hojlund sprung from the bench on the break and did handle to get at the very least one shot away in his cameo however that was pretty much as good because it received in one other tame efficiency.

Each Zirkzee and Hojlund simply appear to have points getting on the tip of issues. There is not a lot incorrect in the meanwhile with United’s build-up however there are such little hanging instincts and even what seems to be a need to go and make a distinction contained in the field from the pair.

That was completely exemplified by Harry Maguire, who was thrust up entrance as an emergency centre-forward on 88 minutes. In that point – eight minutes in complete – Maguire had three photographs, six touches within the opposition field and posted an anticipated targets determine of 0.59. Amazingly, he collected extra anticipated targets in these eight minutes than Hojlund has in his final 15 appearances.

When Maguire is proving extra of a menace in your place in simply eight minutes, it begins to grow to be embarrassing for the 2 misfiring United centre-forwards.