Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim, has defended his decision not to start any academy player in the Premier League this season, insisting his selections are based solely on winning matches.
Amorim noted he is satisfied with the work being done in the academy and has said he will not break United’s long-standing record of having at least one homegrown player in every matchday squad since 1937.
United have continued to invest in the youth system, hiring Stephen Torpey from Brentford to lead it.
On Wednesday, 15-year-old JJ Gabriel was in the directors’ box during the 1-1 draw with West Ham. However, minutes for academy players in the first team have been limited.
Kobbie Mainoo and Tyler Fredricson both started the EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby in August. Fredricson has not played for the first team since, while Mainoo has made nine Premier League substitute appearances, totalling 171 minutes. He came on in the final minute against Crystal Palace and was unused against West Ham despite Amorim making five substitutions.
During Mainoo’s injury spell, Jack Fletcher was named on the bench against Tottenham, and Shea Lacey has been an unused substitute for the last three matches.
“I just want to win. I don’t look (at) who it is, I don’t care about that, I’m just trying to put the best players on the pitch,” Amorim said.
Mainoo is viewed as being in direct competition with captain Bruno Fernandes, who has not been replaced since the match at Liverpool on 19 October.
He had pushed for a loan move in the summer to boost his chances of staying in England’s World Cup plans, but the move was not approved. He is still open to a loan switch.
Amorim has grown frustrated with repeated questions about Mainoo, who scored in the 2024 FA Cup final and started the Euro 2024 final for England.
Asked whether he understood the interest in Mainoo because he is homegrown, Amorim said: “Of course I understand, and my job is to answer.
“But you always ask me the same thing. I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England. But that doesn’t mean that I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn’t put Kobbie [in]. It’s my decision.”
Amorim did not guarantee that Mainoo’s involvement will increase when Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo leave for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” he said. “It’s the same question. I don’t know what is going to happen. It depends. I’ve seen the training, if it’s the best thing for the team, I will put [him in], that is the only way I know how to respond to that.”
Lacey has also not been given a debut despite United failing to win two of the three games he was available for and missing Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha through injury.
Responding to suggestions that he does not trust academy players, Amorim said: “Any players? We have Kobbie Mainoo…”
When asked specifically about Lacey, he said: “So you are asking me why I don’t put Lacey (on) to play, when I have other guys that are internationals who are also on the bench.
“I try to put (on) the best guys, the prepared guys, for this moment of the club, in trying to win the game. That’s the only thing.”
BBC Sport
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