Tonight, Manchester United takes on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, the penultimate match of a miserable season in the top division of England.
After their overall disappointment, Ruben Amorim’s team will want to finish the season strong, but everyone’s attention will surely be on the Europa League final.
The players want to protect themselves and avoid injury before the crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday night.
To get a start against Spurs and the chance to make themselves heroes and finish the season on a high note, players will still want to make an impression against Enzo Maresca’s team.
It will hand the boss a chance to assess his squad, but he should drop one player for the clash in West London tonight, after what has been a below-par year at Old Trafford.
Why Amorim needs to drop Hojlund against Chelsea
After joining United for £72 million from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, striker Rasmus Hojlund had high expectations of succeeding there, but it’s easy to say that his tenure has been a complete bust.
This season, the Danish international has frequently served as the Red Devils’ primary lucky charm, but he has fallen short, scoring only four league goals in his 30 games.
Earlier this season, the 22-year-old went 21 games without scoring in all competitions, underscoring his lack of effect at the top of the field.
With an average of only 11 passes per game, his all-around performance has been as dismal. He has been unable to provide the team with the link-up play necessary for success in the final third.
Such a record has led to numerous links to other attackers all across Europe, with the manager needing to experiment with multiple other options against Chelsea to evaluate his side further ahead of the summer.
The United star who Amorim should start in a new role
Amorim has experimented with a variety of options at the top end of the pitch throughout 2024–2025 in an effort to address their problems in the final third.
The center-back This season, Harry Maguire has frequently been asked to play as a substitute center-forward. His most notable attempt against Nottingham Forest was cleared off the line.
He has not been the only player to play out of position; during the loss to Crystal Palace at home, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo did just that.
He might, however, carry on in this manner by using Amad Diallo as a center-forward, adding yet another position to his repertoire this season after moving positions since Amorim’s hiring.
With 10 goals and eight assists in all competitions, the Ivorian has played both attacking midfield and wing-back, excelling in both roles and ranking among the team’s most productive players.
He needs to play crucial minutes before the Europa League final to give himself the best chance of tipping the scales in their favor, but his ankle ailment has halted his development.
With 2.3 shots per 90, Amad—dubbed a “monster” by former teammate Scott Arfield—has unquestionably contributed to his stellar stats and is a fantastic option at the high end.
| Amad Diallo’s stats for United in the PL (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
| Statistics (per 90) | Tally |
| Games played | 24 |
| Goals & assists | 13 |
| Pass accuracy | 86% |
| Shots taken | 2.6 |
| Chances created | 2.4 |
| Successful dribbles | 2.1 |
| Touches in opposition box | 7.2 |
| Stats via FotMob | |
In addition, he has completed 86% of his passes and created 2.4 chances per 90, giving the other players at the Bridge the chance to succeed.
Using the 22-year-old in this capacity may seem like a daring move, but considering how little the other department players have contributed this campaign, it might be another brilliant move on the boss’s behalf.
Although all eyes will be on the European final the following week, it offers the young player another opportunity to gain playing time and perhaps mark a successful conclusion to what has been a forgettable year for the Red Devils.
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