Manchester United faces Leeds with eight players sidelined and no one returning! Amolin emphasizes youth reliance and admits the ranking should be higher.

Manchester United will travel to Elland Road on Sunday to play against their rivals Leeds United. Coach Ruben Amolin does not expect any injured players to come back for this game, and the African Cup of Nations internationals remain absent, meaning eight players will still be out. The list of absentees includes Bruno Fernandes, Cody Menoe, Mason Mount, Maguire, De Ligt, Mbemou, Amad Diallo, and Mazraoui.

Captain Bruno Fernandes might miss about a month due to a thigh injury sustained against Aston Villa, Menoe has been out for two weeks with a calf injury, and Mount was forced off during the Boxing Day match versus Newcastle United. Maguire has been sidelined since November 8 due to a thigh problem, while De Ligt has missed six weeks because of a back issue.

At the Africa Cup of Nations, Amad’s Ivory Coast is in the upper bracket and will face Burkina Faso in the round of 16 on January 6; in the lower bracket, Cameroon, featuring Manchester United’s Mbemou, meets South Africa in the first knockout round, while Morocco takes on Tanzania, with both matches kicking off on January 4.

Notably, if Cameroon and Morocco advance, they will meet in the quarterfinals, meaning either Mazraoui or Mbemou will be eliminated and able to return to Manchester United. However, this would not happen until after January 10.

When discussing Manchester United’s injury situation, Amolin said it depends on Saturday’s training, but he does not expect anyone to return to the squad. Amolin stated, “There are no new issues; we will assess tomorrow, but I do not anticipate anyone recovering in time to play.”

The Manchester United coach firmly trusts the youth academy players. In the 1-1 draw with Wolves, he brought on Jack Fletcher and Bendito Mantato as substitutes, and he will have to rely on these young talents again when visiting Leeds United.

Amolin said, “We will consider all possibilities, but every player must be fully prepared. You can see the current squad situation; those unavailable cannot play. I am constantly trying to organize a team that can handle any scenario and help players by analyzing the match situation. They need to be ready; this away game will be hostile, but they have to face these challenges. Even experienced veterans find such matches tough.”

Separated by the Pennine Hills, Manchester United and Leeds United are regional rivals, with their hostility rooted in the Lancashire and Yorkshire rivalry. The match is sometimes called the “Battle of the Roses.” Of course, Leeds fans largely see Manchester United as their biggest enemy, while United supporters usually look down on the “White Rose,” considering Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal as their true rivals.

This will be Amolin’s first visit to Elland Road. He said, “We have experienced similar situations before. Last year’s Europa League match in Bilbao was fantastic; the atmosphere was truly unique. Regardless, we must be prepared. I’ve heard this is a very important derby with a passionate atmosphere and fierce competition. However, every Premier League match is extremely tough; this is just another one. I know it means a lot to the fans, and we must strive for victory.”

Amolin admitted he has never encountered a derby like this before; the Portuguese league differs from the Premier League. “I haven’t experienced anything like this. In Portugal, Benfica and Sporting have intense rivalries, but the environment and culture are very different. The atmosphere will definitely be fiery. It’s hard to compare derbies across cultures. Let’s focus on the game itself; we will fight to win.”

The Red Devils’ coach said that regardless of circumstances, Manchester United players have a duty to fight for victory. “Playing for Manchester United means you have to handle everything. The Premier League is the most intense league in the world, with many draws each week. You can never fully control the game or predict the result. It’s truly challenging; the Premier League is like this every week.”

Leeds United have been in excellent form recently, especially at home. In their first match of 2026, they rested Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor but still managed a 0-0 draw at Anfield against Liverpool. Under Daniel Farke, Leeds have gone six games unbeaten. Amolin is particularly wary of their speed, believing it could trouble Manchester United’s fragile defense.

Amolin analyzed, “Leeds are very fast, and sometimes we struggle against their pace. But Manchester United has proven that, in any situation and environment, we can win any game. We will work hard to achieve that, and we know the opponent will adjust tactics. In their last match, they rotated two usual starters, who are quality players, and their coach is excellent.”

Is Manchester United making progress? Amolin responded, “When our squad is complete, we perform better and attack more actively. However, the team still lacks in details. Otherwise, we should have more points by now. Of course, we always want better results, and our position on the table should be higher than it is.”