Ruben Amorim Drops Hojlund and Zirkzee in Tactical Shake-Up for Man Utd

Amorim’s Bold Selection Against Crystal Palace

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim made a surprising tactical decision against Crystal Palace, opting to leave both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee on the bench. This marks the first time since his debut match in charge that Amorim has fielded a starting XI without a recognized centre-forward.

At least one of the two strikers has started every match in United’s last 17 fixtures, with both featuring in December’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United. However, Amorim reshuffled his attacking setup, bringing Alejandro Garnacho back into the side while in-form Amad Diallo maintained his place.

Amorim Explains His Forward Selection

Speaking to Premier League Productions before the match, Amorim outlined his reasoning:

“We are trying to play in different positions, to create some danger. We also want to improve the way we handle the game in the final third – we need to have more possession.”

Kobbie Mainoo was also given an advanced role after impressing in Manchester United’s recent Europa League win over FCSB. The young midfielder played as part of a fluid attacking trio, scoring and assisting in the 2-0 victory.

Creativity Over Traditional Strikers?

Amorim praised Mainoo’s technical ability, highlighting his creativity:

“I like him with the ball. Sometimes you have more space in the build-up phase. He is very good one-on-one and can hold the ball well. We need creativity in the last third.”

Hojlund and Zirkzee have struggled for goals this season, netting just five Premier League goals between them. In contrast, Amad Diallo—despite often being deployed as a right wing-back—has outscored both strikers individually.

What’s Next for Hojlund and Zirkzee?

Both strikers arrived at Old Trafford for a combined fee exceeding £100 million, but with underwhelming goal returns, speculation is growing over their future at the club. If Amorim continues to sideline them, their market value could take a significant hit.

What do you think?
Is Amorim’s striker-free system the right move for Manchester United, or should he reinstate a natural centre-forward? Let us know in the comments!