Amorim faces selection dilemma after key Man Utd players struggle against City

Manchester United played out a dull 0-0 draw at home to Manchester City in a largely uneventful derby match. Neither side created many clear chances in what was an unusually passive encounter between the local rivals.

The first half saw few noteworthy incidents, with City’s best efforts coming from long range shots by Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan that missed the target. United’s best opportunity fell to Alejandro Garnacho, but he failed to convert Diogo Dalot’s cross.

The second half had slightly more action, though both teams remained cautious. Omar Marmoush tested Andre Onana with two shots – a well-struck free kick and a powerful volley that the keeper parried away.

United substitute Joshua Zirkzee nearly won it late on, but his close-range effort from Patrick Dorgu’s cross was brilliantly saved by Ederson.

It was a forgettable derby overall, with some poor individual performances on display. Manuel Ugarte particularly struggled to make an impact in midfield for United.

Ugarte’s ineffective display

The Uruguay international failed to exert any control in the center of the park. He completed just 17 of 22 attempted passes for a 77% accuracy rate. Ugarte also lost possession 7 times and won only 2 of 6 ground duels.

Manchester Evening News writer Samuel Luckhurst gave Ugarte a 5/10 rating, criticizing him as “erratic in possession” against City.

While Ugarte did have one decent long-range effort in the second half that went narrowly wide, it was overall a difficult outing for the midfielder.

Hojlund’s continued struggles

Striker Rasmus Hojlund also endured another ineffective performance, barely impacting the game in his 71 minutes on the pitch. The Dane had just 15 touches, completing 7 of 9 passes. He lost the ball 4 times and failed to register a single shot.

Luckhurst rated Hojlund a 4/10, the lowest of any United player. He stated the striker “showed why he has to be replaced up front in the summer” – a damning assessment.

With a crucial Europa League match against Lyon coming up, manager Ruben Amorim faces some tough selection decisions. Hojlund’s poor form may force a change up front, with Zirkzee the main alternative given Chido Obi is unavailable in Europe.

It’s a big call for Amorim with United’s season potentially riding on their European campaign. Rotating Hojlund out of the starting lineup on Thursday may be the right move given his recent struggles.