Ruben Amorim explains playing Kobbie Mainoo as a striker after Man Utd lose to Crystal Palace

Ruben Amorim has explained his bizarre determination to commencement Kobbie Mainoo arsenic a striker successful Manchester United’s 2-0 nonaccomplishment to Crystal Palace connected Sunday.

United’s atrocious tally of signifier successful the Premier League continued astatine Old Trafford arsenic a Jean-Philippe Mateta brace condemned them to a seventh decision successful 11 games.

There was large astonishment erstwhile the lineups were announced, with neither Rasmus Hojlund oregon Joshua Zirkzee successful the Red Devils starting XI.

Both person been severely criticised this play but their lack meant United did not person a earthy centre-forward connected the pitch.

It was assumed that 1 of Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho oregon Amad Diallo would commencement up apical but arsenic the crippled kicked-off it was Mainoo who was playing arsenic the No.9.

The antithetic maneuver started disconnected truly good arsenic the England midfielder struck the station successful the opening minutes but the Eagles’ defence rapidly sussed what was what and constricted his interaction for overmuch of the game.

The 19-year-old was subbed disconnected successful the 70th minute, with United registering conscionable 2 shots connected target.

Traditionally a box-to-box midfielder, Mainoo did play successful a much precocious relation successful United’s 2-0 Europa League triumph implicit FCSB, wherever helium scored the 2nd goal.

Speaking earlier kick-off, Amorim explained his lineup telling Premier League Productions: ‘Try to play successful antithetic positions, to make immoderate danger. We besides privation to amended the mode we instrumentality the crippled successful the past 3rd – we request to person much possession.

‘I similar him [Mainoo] with the ball. Sometimes you person much abstraction successful the build-up phase. 

‘I deliberation he’s a bully subordinate due to the fact that helium tin clasp the ball. He is precise bully 1 against 1 and helium is creative. We request creativity successful the past third.’

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