Ruben Amorim challenges Man United stars to step up in absence of Bruno Fernandes with SEVEN players out of crunch Boxing Day clash with Newcastle
Ruben Amorim admits it will be ‘impossible’ to replace Bruno Fernandes, but has challenged his Manchester United players to step up and fill the gap left by their injured captain.
Fernandes will be out for up to a month with the hamstring strain he suffered in Sunday’s defeat to Aston Villa, and is one of seven players who will miss the Boxing Day clash with Newcastle at Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs De Ligt and Harry Maguire are also injured, and United are without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui who are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
It’s the first significant lay-off of Fernandes’ six-year United career – having only missed two games through injury and one through illness – and Amorim believes the only silver lining is that it will make his teammates shoulder the extra responsibility.
‘It is impossible to replace Bruno, but I said that this morning to the team,’ said Amorim. ‘We need to take the good thing – if there is a good thing on that – a lot of people need to step up.
‘We understand we cannot rely on one player for everything. Sometimes we rely on Bruno for organisation and the creation. He understands every position on the field, and pays attention to every detail; every set-piece when you have a substitution he is always the guy telling the other guys where they should be.
Bruno Fernandes suffered a hamstring injury during Man United’s defeat by Aston Villa
Ruben Amorim has challenged United’s players to step up in the absence of their captain
‘It is not just the creation: every set-piece he is the guy who is organising the team, and that is a good opportunity for everyone to step up. We have lost Bruno on set-pieces, Bryan and Amad on set-pieces, so this is massive for the team.
‘It is an opportunity for other players to step up and to show the leadership that we need in the team, for guys like Licha (Martinez), Luke Shaw, all these guys. We need to step up to have more leaders in the group because this can happen to Bruno. It is not usual but this can happen so it is a big opportunity for the other guys.’
The injury situation forced Amorim to bring teenagers Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey off the bench against Villa, and the United boss insists his squad can cope with the injury problems.
‘I am confident we can win any game,’ he added. ‘Of course, we have some problems. Even without many players in this moment in time, I believe in the team and I believe we can win any game. Of course, it is more difficult but I trust in my players and if we are really focused we can win.
‘We have other players, we need maybe try to see different ways of playing. I think Jack Fletcher did a very good job (against Villa).and that is why when we have this opportunity we have to give space to Jack and the other ones. We will find solutions to play.’
