1 day ago
22 ARTICLE AD
Ruben Amorim left the door open for Joshua Zirkzee to leave Manchester United despite Bruno Fernandes' passionate defence of the star.
Zirkzee was unexpectedly hauled off just 30 minutes into the Red Devils' 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at Old Trafford last Monday.
4
If being substituted without an injury in the first half wasn't brutal enough, sections of United supporters sarcastically cheered Zirkzee as he made his way down the tunnel before he eventually returned to the dugout.
However, United's away supporters got behind their £36.5million summer signing during the pulsating 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
The fans were heard singing Zirkzee's name on multiple occasions, confirming they were fully behind the Dutchman after the brutal reception at Old Trafford.
Amorim opted to throw Zirkzee on with four minutes of regular time remaining and he came agonisingly close to providing the assist for what would have been the winner.
Zirkzee was played in down the right and could have shot at goal, although it was a rather tight angle.
Instead, Zirkzee took the unselfish option of squaring the ball to centre-back Harry Maguire, who found himself unmarked in Liverpool's box.
However, Maguire blazed his effort over the bar and prompted a classic reaction from Red Devils legend Gary Neville on commentary.
Despite the late agony, Amorim was happy with what he saw from Zirkzee and hailed the 23-year-old's application.
But the United boss stressed there are no guarantees regarding Zirkzee's future at the club.
"I want to keep Josh because he gives everything," Amorim said.
4
"He's trying in training but we don't know, the window is open.
"We will see what happens. We just need to focus on training and to take this for the next game. So it's just one point. Let's focus on the performance, take this to the next game."
Although Zirkzee's effort may be there, it hasn't quite translated into goals just yet.
After he scored the winner in his Premier League debut against Fulham, Zirkzee has found the back of the net just twice in the following 19 league fixtures and has just four goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for Man United.
Both of those goals came in the one game as United dispatched Everton 4-0 on December 1.
In Zirkzee's defence, he has been substituted in on 13 occasions from the 20 league games he has appeared in, meaning he hasn't had large amounts of time to settle into contests.
4
But it hasn't stopped sections of United's fanbase growing impatient with Zirkzee given his lack of attacking output compared to his transfer fee.
Captain Fernandes has since moved to shelter Zirkzee from the storm, although he recognised his teammates must understand the pressure and expectations that comes with representing a team of United's stature.
"Everyone has been saying that because after what happened last week to Josh," Fernandes said.
"Everyone gets a little bit afraid of sometimes stepping in into these big stages, but we need to understand the club we play for. We need to understand the demands to play for this club.
"But at the same time, I really get frustrated for what happened to Josh, because I was in the stands and I've never seen something like this.
"And it really frustrates me and annoys me because he's a player that always gives it his all. Always tries as a player that is coming into the team."
4
Although Fernandes conceded Zirkzee 'needs time to adapt', he reiterated the Dutchman 'has huge qualities' and has not lost it overnight.
"He hasn't showed up all the quality but it can't be that from the first game of the season, everyone was hyping him," Fernandes said.
"One of the best strikers and now everyone doesn't believe in him anymore. We do believe in him inside the dressing room.
"We really believe that he can give us many good things and we're going to support him and obviously, I would rather be myself in his position against Newcastle than be seeing one of my teammates getting that."
United's next fixture is not until January 12 as they travel to the Emirates Stadium for a third round FA Cup clash against Arsenal.
But that trip to face the Gunners is the start of a six-game run for the Red Devils in the space of 18 days, meaning Amorim look to rotate and keep his squad fresh.
The changes could mean Zirkzee gets another chance to remind United fans of his quality and get the goals his output supposedly warrants.
