Manchester United managed to find an equaliser against Nottingham Forest which salvaged the unbeaten streak, now standing at four games, but there were real negatives to take out of the game.
It was a long and frustrating afternoon at the City Ground on Saturday, with Ruben Amorim’s free-scoring reds coming up against a very stubborn Nottingham Forest defence.
Manchester United created very little in way of real opportunities in front of goal, with set pieces providing the two goals scored.
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United drew 2-2 with Forest, with Amorim using just two substitutions which was concerning as the players on the pitch didn’t warrant staying on the entire 90.
In doing this, Amorim sent a particularly clear message to two players.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesKobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee given vote of no confidence by Ruben Amorim
On Saturday, as United’s on-field playing staff struggled while Amorim watched on and decided no changes were necessary.
This will have left both Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo surely infuriated on the sidelines as they spent a long time warming up only to not get a single minute of action.
Amorim wouldn’t have caught criticism for this if his selected starting line-up was performing, but this wasn’t the case, and this made the decision worse.
If Zirkzee and Mainoo can’t get a minute in a game like that, their futures at United are effectively over under Amorim.
Manchester United could lose Mainoo and Zirkzee in January
Last week it was reported United wanted to keep Mainoo and Zirkzee at the club in January with AFCON set to leave the Red Devils light in numbers.
Despite United’s wishes, the players ultimately won’t be happy and therefore keeping them could be difficult.
Mainoo wanted to leave on loan in the summer, only for Amorim to reject the request saying that he needed the midfielder.
Additionally, Zirkzee is wanted in Italy and also the Premier League by a number of clubs and he is probably more likely to demand an exit than Mainoo.
If they leave, United might need replacements, but Amorim could quickly fix this by playing them weekly, but his actions at the City Ground make a clear point.