Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim sent a message to several of his players while praising Noussair Mazraoui after Thursday’s Europa League victory over Bodo/Glimt.
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Amorim celebrated his first Old Trafford win, with Rasmus Hojlund’s stellar performance leading the team to a 3-2 victory. The 21-year-old striker netted his seventh and eighth goals in just nine European starts since joining the club. ..Continue Reading
Hojlund also played a key role in setting up Alejandro Garnacho’s early goal, pressuring Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin into a mistake.
However, Mazraoui was another standout player, further solidifying his reputation as one of the best signings of the summer.
The £13million defender shone as Amorim’s right-sided centre-back, contributing with a precise dribble and cross that led to Hojlund’s equaliser just before halftime.
Mazraoui has emerged as a leading contender for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award, with goalkeeper Andre Onana his main rival after a strong season.
Amorim’s tactical adjustments raised questions about whether Mazraoui, given the role of one of his wing-backs as a traditional winger, would fit into the system.
However, the manager issued a warning to Amad, Diogo Dalot, and Luke Shaw, emphasizing how vital Mazraoui is to his plans moving forward.
Amorim’s remarks could even cast doubt on Lisandro Martinez’s place as a regular starter, considering how well Mazraoui has performed on the left side this season.
“He’s an incredible player. He’s our future because he played in a different position [but] he always looks fresh,” Amorim hailed after full-time.
“But we have to be careful [because] there are a lot of games. He’s here to stay. This kind of player is what we need.”
The Portuguese coach also stressed the importance of his first win, which moved Man United up to 12th in the Europa League table, one point within the top eight.
He added: “The win is always more important [than the performance]. It’s not everything, but at the moment, the win is more important.
“When you are in a club like our club, you have to win first, and then we will reach a point where the win is not enough. You have to play well because you are Manchester United.
“So we have to manage all of these things without training, but I felt the same. We have a lot to improve, but we’ve improved already since the Ipswich game.”
Amorim will seek more improvements when Everton visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.
