Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has revealed the thinking behind his surprise decision to push Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire into attacking roles during United’s stunning 5-4 comeback win over Lyon.
With Rasmus Hojlund forced off late in regular time, Amorim turned to 19-year-old Mainoo despite his recent struggles with form and fitness. The manager explained that while Mainoo currently lacks top speed, “he’s really good in short spaces,” making him ideal for exploiting tight openings near the box. The gamble paid off as the youngster produced a composed, curling finish that looked set to take the game to penalties.
But the final twist came from an even more unexpected source: Harry Maguire. Moved up front in the dying moments of extra time, the defender sealed the win with a towering header.
“We tried to put Harry Maguire up front because he is the only one who can score a goal with a header,” Amorim said post-match.
Now, United are through to the Europa League semi-finals, where they’ll face Athletic Club with the first leg set for May 1 in Bilbao, and the return leg a week later at Old Trafford.
