Ruben Amorim made a bold decision by substituting Joshua Zirkzee just 33 minutes into Manchester United’s match, prompting huge cheers from the crowd. The move drew a reaction from pundit Gary Neville, who described it as “brutal.”
Ruben Amorim substituted Joshua Zirkzee after just 33 minutes during Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle.
The Dutch forward was met with sarcastic cheers from United fans as he made his way off the pitch, leaving commentator Gary Neville sympathizing with the player, calling the situation “harsh.”
3Ruben Amorim replaced Joshua Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo in the 33rd minuteCredit: AFP
3Amorim made the brutal call as Manchester United fans cheered the decisionCredit: Reuters
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Ruben Amorim made a bold decision to substitute Joshua Zirkzee after just 33 minutes during Manchester United’s match against Newcastle, with the Dutch forward struggling to make an impact.
United found themselves 2-0 down early on, following goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton, and Amorim opted to replace Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo, aiming to regain control in midfield.
Zirkzee, signed for £36.5 million in the summer, expressed visible frustration, storming down the tunnel before returning to the bench. His departure was met with sarcastic cheers from the Old Trafford crowd, prompting sympathy from Gary Neville.
The former United defender said, “I actually feel sorry for him. There’s a human being in there being cheered off by home fans—that’s brutal. In 43 years of coming here, I’ve not seen that too often.”
Neville also criticized United’s broader struggles this season, labeling them the “worst pound-for-pound team in the country.” He added, “Manchester United have been a graveyard for players with decent reputations, and it’s happening again.”
Amorim, addressing his decision post-match, said, “I thought the team was suffering, and we needed another midfielder to gain more control. It was tough, but I’ve spoken to Josh. He’s a good lad, and we’ll support him.”
Despite showing potential earlier in the season with four goals and two assists in 26 appearances, Zirkzee has struggled to find consistent form, epitomizing United’s larger woes in a difficult campaign.