Amorim: Mainoo and Zirkzee must fight, not whine to leave!

Gilabola.com – Ruben Amorim insists Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee remain part of Manchester United’s plans, even though both are being linked with the possibility of leaving.

The two players are said to be frustrated because they rarely play, while Amorim asked them to compete healthily for the main place, instead of sulking at the media and asking to leave.

Mainoo, 20 years old, is known to have asked to be loaned out at the end of the summer transfer window. However, this request was rejected by the club because Amorim wanted to keep him as a cover for Bruno Fernandes in midfield.

This season, Mainoo has never started in the Premier League and has only appeared five times as a substitute. He has the ambition to be included in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup after appearing at Euro 2024, but this opportunity is threatened if his playing minutes do not increase.

Zirkzee also experienced a similar situation. The Dutch striker has only recorded 82 minutes of playing in all competitions and is reportedly starting to consider the option of leaving in the January window if his condition does not change.

Amorim believes it is normal for both players to feel dissatisfied, especially in the season leading up to the World Cup. He said that young players do want to appear more often, but the decision is always based on the needs of the team and performance in training.

According to him, the atmosphere at Manchester United is always busy with issues and pressure. He believes that agents often amplify players’ complaints to find a way out, even though everything is still needed for the long season.

The Portuguese coach emphasized that Mainoo and Zirkzee still have an important role in his squad. He said that both of them had to be ready whenever they were called because the competition season was still long and busy.

Amorim: Mainoo Must Be Better

In the press conference ahead of the Manchester derby, Amorim also expressed his views on Mainoo’s development. He said the young midfielder had great potential, but had not yet reached his maximum level.

Amorim admitted that he only spoke with Mainoo this week so that it would not be misinterpreted as an attempt to simply detain players. He explained that the conversation was aimed at providing encouragement for the player to continue to develop.

According to him, many people think that Mainoo has reached a mature stage, even though there are still many aspects that need to be improved. Amorim emphasized that he actually wanted to help Mainoo become a better player overall.

He added that there was no guarantee of a place for anyone on the team. Every player, including Mainoo, has to prove themselves in training. If you appear the most prepared and consistent, then the opportunity to play will come.

Amorim closed his comments by saying that he had full confidence in Mainoo and Zirkzee’s abilities. He believes both will get opportunities, as long as they remain focused on improving performance and don’t rush to find a way out.