Manchester United’s woes continued as they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United on Monday. The defeat extended the Red Devils’ losing streak to four games, leaving them languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.
The match had a particularly emotional impact on the striker Joshua Zirkzee, who was replaced just 33 minutes into the first half. The £36.5 million summer signing was jeered by his own supporters as he left the pitch, with reports saying he was then left in tears in the tunnel.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to remove Zirkzee, admitting the Dutch striker is “suffering” amid his difficult first season in England. Amorim stressed that the early change was necessary for the team, calling on Kobbie Mainoo to help United gain a foothold in the match.
“I talked about it with Josh, because it’s important to express the message, but I always think about the team and, at that moment, it was important for the team that Josh came out,” Amorim said. Aerial sports.
The United boss cited the example of Harry Maguire as a player who has gone through difficult times at the club, emphasizing that the club will continue to support Zirkzee as he goes through this difficult period.
The defeat leaves United seven points clear of the relegation zone, a worrying position for a club of their stature. Veteran defender Gary Neville called United’s current squad the “worst pound-for-pound team in the country”, highlighting the significant work required to turn things around.
As the new year approaches, Amorim and his players will need to find a way to quickly stop their slide and restore confidence within the team and among the fans. The emotional scenes surrounding Zirkzee’s replacement are a stark reminder of the mounting pressure at Old Trafford.
