Ruben Amorim Substitutes Joshua Zirkzee After 33 Minutes Amid Sarcastic Cheers at Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim made a bold call during Manchester United’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United by substituting Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee after just 33 minutes of play. The decision was met with sarcastic cheers from the home crowd at Old Trafford, leaving football pundit Gary Neville visibly empathetic towards the struggling striker.
Match Recap:
Manchester United found themselves trailing 2-0 inside the first 20 minutes, following clinical finishes from Alexander Isak and Joelinton. Amorim, clearly frustrated with his side’s performance, replaced Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo before halftime in an effort to regain control in midfield.
Zirkzee, who was deployed as a second striker behind Rasmus Højlund, headed straight down the tunnel after being subbed. He reappeared shortly after to sit on the bench, but the incident captured the ongoing struggles of United’s summer recruit.
Gary Neville’s Reaction:
Former Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville expressed his sympathy for the £36.5 million summer signing.
“I genuinely feel sorry for him,” Neville said. “He’s earning a lot of money, yes, but beneath that is a human being who was sarcastically cheered off by home fans. That’s brutal. I’ve been coming to Old Trafford for 43 years, and I haven’t seen that happen often.”
Neville didn’t hold back on his assessment of Manchester United’s overall performance. “This is the worst pound-for-pound team in the country right now, bar none,” he added.
A Tough Start for Zirkzee:
Zirkzee has struggled to find his footing since his high-profile summer move from Bologna. In 26 appearances this season, the Dutch forward has managed just four goals and two assists. Neville was critical of Zirkzee and Manchester United’s other summer signings, questioning their impact on the team’s performances.
“I was shocked at how poor these signings have been in their first months. United signed players like Yoro, De Ligt, Ugarte, and Zirkzee with solid reputations, but wearing the red shirt seems to make the team worse. That’s baffling,” Neville remarked.
Amorim’s decision underscores the growing frustration at Old Trafford as United continue to grapple with consistency. The team has now faced several disappointing results, amplifying pressure on both players and management.