Manchester United host Bournemouth on Monday evening as they aim to climb into the Premier League top six, with Harry Maguire giving an honest assessment
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United could go fifth with a win against Bournemouth
Manchester United will look to maintain their Premier League ascent when they welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim’s side returned to winning form in their last outing against Wolves. Following a hugely disappointing previous season, Amorim kicked off his first complete campaign at Old Trafford in underwhelming style with a string of defeats including an embarrassing loss to Grimsby Town in the League Cup.
However, some concerns have been put to rest as his squad have moved up the table. United could now move into fifth with victory on Monday night, though despite sitting in 14th position, Andoni Iraola’s Cherries won’t be easy opponents. Amorim may be missing several important players for the clash – here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire of Manchester United(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Harry Maguire makes manager claim
The England centre-back picked up a hamstring problem during November’s 2-2 stalemate with Tottenham and continues to be unavailable. Yet he has taken the opportunity to lavish praise on a previous United manager, reports the Mirror.
The injured Maguire has struggled for playing time under Amorim this term, starting only four league fixtures. Speaking to discovery+, he declared one of his former managers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, didn’t receive enough credit during his tenure as United chief before he was sacked.
“Ole was brilliant, I think Ole was so underappreciated,” Maguire said. “He never got the recognition for what he was doing. It felt like, again, it was at Manchester United. If he was doing it at any other club he would have had recognition.
“It felt like everyone was waiting for the moment to kick him down, and he never allowed it. He was a real good manager. He had real good staff around him with Kieran [McKenna] and [Michael] Carrick, a fantastic man-manager, he knew how to look after his team and his players.
“It felt like he never really got the recognition and it was a shame really. Ultimately that third season we didn’t do enough, the balance of the team wasn’t what we had the previous two years, but I can’t speak highly enough of Ole.”
Andoni Iraola highlights key United duo
Mason Mount is enjoying his best form in a Manchester United shirt(Image: DARREN STAPLES, AFP via Getty Images)
Looking ahead to Bournemouth’s encounter with United, Cherries manager Iraola has identified two potential opponents who could cause his side problems. He said: “Players like Amad, who is now even more important.
“He is an even bigger threat, and we have to be ready to defend difficult duels for the full-backs and for the centre-backs because you have to defend some very good players in open spaces.
“Mason Mount is a very smart player,” he added. “He always takes up good positions. I think he understands and analyses the game really well, to take up spaces on the pitch that he can exploit better.
“Sometimes he plays higher, sometimes lower, sometimes wider, sometimes inside, and obviously, there is a reason he does that. Then he is also a lovely player on the ball if we allow him a lot of time.”
Patrick Dorgu risks suspension
Patrick Dorgu signed for United in the summer(Image: Stuart Leggett/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Danish international Patrick Dorgu has frequently been deployed by Amorim as a left-wing-back, but his playing time has dwindled in recent matches, with Diogo Dalot often being the preferred choice.
The 21-year-old may get a chance to play against Bournemouth, either starting or coming off the bench, but he’ll need to avoid picking up another yellow card.
So far this season, Dorgu has received bookings in Premier League games against Arsenal, Brentford, Brighton and Tottenham. If he accumulates a fifth before the 20th match of the campaign, he’ll face a one-match suspension.
According to The FA’s disciplinary rules, any player who receives five yellow cards within the first 19 matches of a season will be handed a one-match ban. These suspensions don’t extend to the EFL Cup or the FA Cup and must be served in the Premier League.
Dorgu isn’t the only one at risk of a ban on Monday evening. Midfielder Casemiro is also on thin ice, having already picked up four yellow cards.
Amorim plays mind games
Ruben Amorim has some decisions to make when it comes to his starting XI(Image: Getty Images)
Amorim is keeping his plans for the trio of Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui under wraps.
The three players are due to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations. However, it remains unclear whether they’ll depart before or after tonight’s match.
This uncertainty looks set to continue until closer to kick-off, leaving United’s opponents guessing about their availability.
