Amorim is set to 'throw' Manchester United's young players into the Rose Derby

Ruben Amorim declared that he will rely on many young players for the trip to Leeds. Although the Rose Derby is fiercely contested, Amorim sees it as a chance for Jack Fletcher, Shea Lacey, and Bendito Mantato to develop further. This will help Manchester United significantly in the present and going forward.

Amorim is not worried about Leeds

Leeds recently secured a brave draw against Liverpool. It was a match where they troubled the reigning Premier League champions, but to Ruben Amorim, Leeds is just like many other opponents. Why say that? Because Amorim’s current concern isn’t about who the opponent is or their strength... but rather Manchester United’s squad situation. This season, United has never shown a stable enough form to reassure fans. Injuries combined with key players being away for AFCON have made early 2026 a challenging puzzle for Ruben Amorim.

In this context, Manchester United is expected to strengthen their squad during the 2026 January transfer window to address current issues and deepen the roster. However, according to Ruben Amorim, the chances of United adding new players in January are slim.

He revealed: "Our transfer plan remains unchanged. At the moment, we have not had any discussions about altering the squad. Everything will follow the previously set plan and direction. Manchester United is close to a Champions League spot, but not far ahead of the eight teams behind. So, let's focus only on the next opponent. Our goal is to win the upcoming match."

Manchester United’s next opponent is Leeds — a club once famous in the Premier League but now newly promoted back in the 2025/26 season. United will travel to Elland Road without several injured players. Amorim admitted:

"There are no issues with the other players. I will review the squad after the final training session before heading to Leeds. I don’t think the injured players will recover in time for the Leeds match, but we’ll wait and see.

I understand that the Leeds vs United match is a major derby, creating a fantastic atmosphere and a fiercely competitive encounter. The game is played in a hostile environment, but the players must be ready."

They (referring to players making their Leeds debut and the young group) need to experience this, and it will be tough for anyone, even those with plenty of experience. But we all know that every Premier League match is challenging. It’s just another game, I know it means a lot to the fans, but Manchester United must go there and try to win."

The situation at Manchester United is quite serious, especially regarding personnel. Amorim confirmed it’s very likely he will still be without Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs De Ligt, and Harry Maguire due to injuries, while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are still competing at AFCON.

In recent matches, the United manager has given debut opportunities to teenagers like Jack Fletcher, Shea Lacey, and Bendito Mantato, and now he is ready to start them or bring them off the bench at Elland Road if necessary.

Amorim’s comments clearly indicate his plans for the Leeds match, but to be fair, the Portuguese coach seems out of options unless the injured players recover suddenly and the AFCON players return immediately.

From an objective perspective, youngsters like Fletcher and Lacey should see this as a great chance to impress and shine at Manchester United rather than be overwhelmed by the pressure. As long as they perform to their potential and contribute well, Amorim will surely give them regular playing time.

"What will happen with Bruno Fernandes?"

Without Bruno Fernandes, and with Mainoo and Mount also sidelined, the burden in this position will likely fall on Matheus Cunha. When Manchester United spent £62.5 million to sign Cunha from Wolves last summer, they sought more than just a skilled forward. The Red Devils’ management expected the Brazilian star to share creative responsibilities previously held by Bruno Fernandes.

Coach Ruben Amorim once made an interesting remark about his pupil: "We need a madman, someone who can say 'I don’t care' even when the world is burning. The team needs mavericks like that."

Cunha has adapted well to life in Manchester. He has become one of the key outlets whenever the team faces difficulties. In the hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day, Amorim admitted he didn’t dare to substitute Cunha because he was "the only player who made things easier for the team."

Indeed, Manchester United is more unpredictable with Cunha on the pitch and becomes ordinary when he is absent. Cunha’s ability to drive the ball forward 10-15 meters towards the opponent’s goal is a potent weapon. He always craves the ball and even complains if teammates don’t pass to him. That is the trait of a star willing to take responsibility. It explains why Amorim was determined to buy him and push Sancho, Garnacho, and Rashford out at any cost.

Cunha’s biggest issue currently is his output efficiency. Despite his energetic play, he has only scored 3 goals against an expected goals (xG) tally of 4.6. His bold long-range shots or penalty area incursions often lack a bit of luck (hitting the post twice) or final sharpness.

Moreover, Cunha also needs a better target man to fully utilize his abilities. Sesko will have to triple or even multiply his efforts by ten, as Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Diallo, and Mount are absent, to support Cunha effectively. If the Sesko-Cunha partnership clicks, Manchester United’s problems will be solved immediately, and vice versa.