Ruben Amorim is set to hand opportunities to some Manchester United youngsters vs Brentford on Sunday
Not even the most optimistic of Manchester United fans would’ve projected their team to perform as well as they did against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Thursday night.
In contrast to their forgettable Premier League season, Ruben Amorim’s side have found their mojo in Europe, and a superb display, aided by a first-half red card, set the stage for a 3-0 victory and now one step away from reaching the final—held at San Mames later this month.
Now, the Red Devils will turn their attention to Premier League duties on Sunday. Manchester United travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford on Sunday afternoon. Things have been far less convincing domestically, with Ruben Amorim and Co. winless in their last five league outings and in desperate need of a response.
With the second leg against Athletic Bilbao looming on Thursday night at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim has said in his press conference that the youngsters “will have to play” against Brentford in West London.
“Maybe some kids will have to play against Brentford,” Amorim said in his pre-match press conference.
“We have some problems in our squad. Some players are in the limit. We will try to manage everything and the best way is to prepare for all these things. We’ll see what we can do at the weekend.
“Chido cannot play against Athletic but, in the Premier League, yes, of course. They will have to play. We have some problems. We have some players, in this moment who can play one game, but the next one they cannot play.
“We don’t know what kind of starting XI we need for the second game [this week]. Everything is in my mind but they [the youngsters] will have to play.”
Versatile defender Noussair Mazraoui has already been ruled out of the Premier League clash due to fatigue, and a number of other first-team players are set to be rested for the contest against the Bees. The likes of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Patrick Dorgu are also expected to be given a breather.
Chido Obi, Sekou Kone, Harry Amass, Jaydan Kamason, Tyler Fredricson and Bendito Mantato all travelled to Spain with the United squad for the Europa League semi-final first leg against Bilbao. Obi, Amass and Fredricson have all made their senior debuts this season, so the United boss could field them from the start.
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Kamason, Kone and Mantato will be hoping to make their first-team debuts on Sunday. It will be interesting to see whether Amorim decides to start the trio or bring them off the bench.
Recent injury returnees such as Matthijs de Ligt, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are expected to be part of the XI, while Amad Diallo—who made an impressive cameo appearance at Bilbao, hopes to come off the bench on Sunday against Thomas Frank’s side.