Ruben Amorim says he decided to replace Joshua Zirkzee in the first half of Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle as the forward was ‘suffering’ and he needed another midfielder on the pitch.
United’s woeful form under Amorim continued as a pair of headers from Alexander Isak and Joelinton gave Newcastle a two-goal buffer inside 20 minutes.
It could have been three had Isak not chipped the ball straight into Andre Onana’s arms from close range shortly after his opener. The Swede also had a goal disallowed for offside on the half-hour mark at a deathly silent Old Trafford.
The Red Devils simply had no answer despite Amorim ringing the changes, with Zirkzee substituted for Kobbie Mainoo after only 33 minutes and Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt also brought off in the second half.
The loss – United’s fourth on the spin and only their second to Newcastle at the stadium since as far back as 1972 – leaves Amorim’s men stuck down in 14 place, just seven points above the relegation zone.
Newcastle, meanwhile, rose to fifth with the win and could move up into the top four with victory away to Tottenham this weekend, depending on other results.
On his decision to haul Zirkzee off so early, United head coach Amorim told Sky Sports: ‘Josh is a player of Manchester United that we want more power sometimes in front.
‘We are suffering always the first goal at set-pieces so today we had more guys towards set-pieces.
‘We are trying to cope with every problem in the team but sometimes we have a lot of problems. Sometimes you push one side and the other side is open.
‘It’s really clear that Newcastle was the better team.’
Amorim stressed that is was a ‘really, really tough’ call having to hook Zirkzee at such an early stage of the match, though felt it was ‘important for the team’ as a whole.
‘You have to think about the team and also sometimes about the player because the player is suffering,’ the Portuguese added.
‘I was there a few years ago and I know that he wants it because I saw it during the week. That is the more important thing and he’s suffering during the game.
‘I felt the team was suffering and needed another midfielder to have more and then we started to have more ball with Kobbie Mainoo.
‘But it was really, really tough on me to do that and I talked with Josh about that because it’s important to express the message.
‘But I’m always thinking about the team and, in that moment, it was important for the team [for] Josh [to] go out.’
A visibly agitated Zirkzee was pictured making his way straight down the tunnel – as jeers echoed around Old Trafford – before later returning to United’s bench.
Asked whether he could understand Zirkzee’s frustration, Amorim replied: ‘Yeah, it’s important to know the players and I know that Josh is a really, really good guy.
‘When he went to the tunnel, sometimes there is some guys – and I can say that – that are in a bad way. He’s in a good way because he’s a really good lad.
‘He will have the support and we will prepare for the next game.
‘There is some moments and you have some examples like Harry Maguire that had some tough moments but that is life in every profession.
‘We will support Josh and continue because like I said, Newcastle was the better team. Not better than Josh, better than Manchester United.’
Giving his reaction on Sky Sports’ commentary, ex-United defender Gary Neville said he ‘felt sorry’ for the Netherlands international.
‘I actually feel sorry for him, I really do,’ said Neville.
‘I know he’s earning a lot of money here, but there is a human being in there that’s basically been cheered off by his own fans and that is brutal.
‘I’ve not seen that too many times at Old Trafford in the 43 years I’ve been coming here, if at all, actually.’
As Zirkzee made his way down the tunnel, Neville added: ‘He’s had enough and I actually don’t blame him. It’s massive embarrassment.
‘He’s not played well, let’s be clear. But they’ve all been absolutely awful.’
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