Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Monday’s Premier League game against Bournemouth at Old Trafford (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Amorim confirmed both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are out for the game, with De Ligt having “something in his back” causing some pain. Meanwhile, they “will have to see” if striker Benjamin Sesko will be fit after having a bout of food poisoning.
- On whether Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo will play on Monday before going to the Africa Cup of Nations: “We are still in conversations with the national teams. The game is on Monday, they are here training, and we are trying to prepare all scenarios. It’s frustrating but at the same time nobody knows who is going to play, so it’s a good thing. We have players to cope with everything.”
- He added: “I don’t know if it’s going to be the same situation [when each player goes to Afcon], but every national team has their ideas about when they want the players. I expect today or maybe tomorrow to have a decision but we are waiting until the last moment to chose the best team.”
- On stats suggesting that results are better for the side when Mason Mount plays: “It’s hard to make that connection. It’s a fact, but it’s not just that. We have to look at the way the game was. But he’s a very, very smart player. He’s really technical, because sometimes to be a technical player is not just having fun with the ball, it’s the quality of the pass, the reception, how to receive the ball. In these things he’s really smart. He can balance our team quite well, so he’s a very good player.”
- Amorim said Bournemouth are “a top team” but insisted “we need to win, especially at home”.
- Asked about the work done by opposition manager Andoni Iraola, he responded: “Special. The way they play the game, what he’s doing for some players, he’s improving some players and you can look at that team and they have several players who can play at a high level.”
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