“I knew it would be a tough battle upfront, so I decided to go with someone who could create more opportunities rather than get into a physical contest” – Ruben Amorim explains his bold decision to bench Rasmus Hojlund in favor of Joshua Zirkzee against Everton. The move, which raised eyebrows, turned out to be a masterstroke as Zirkzee bagged two goals in United’s 4-0 triumph.

Just three games into his tenure as Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim is already demonstrating his tactical acumen.

Coaching success is often judged by results, and so far, Amorim’s unbeaten run with two wins and a draw paints him as a shrewd decision-maker. Had the results gone differently, with three losses and three different strikers, he might have faced criticism for being indecisive. Instead, Amorim is showing himself to be a coach who carefully evaluates his squad and tailors his approach to each opponent.

This was evident in his decision to start Joshua Zirkzee over Rasmus Hojlund against Everton, a move that proved inspired. Zirkzee scored twice in the 4-0 win, his first goals since August. Meanwhile, Hojlund, who had played the full 90 minutes in midweek against Bodo/Glimt and delivered a stellar performance with an assist and two goals, was rested.

Amorim explained his reasoning during the post-match press conference, emphasizing the physicality of Everton’s defensive pairing of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite. He believed Hojlund would get drawn into a physical battle, which he wanted to avoid. Instead, he opted for Zirkzee, whose off-the-ball movement and ability to drop deeper created space for United to exploit.

“I just try to help my players and put them in a good position for their characteristics,” Amorim said. “It would have been really hard, even for Rasmus, to fight with the two centre-backs of Everton. Josh did a great job pushing them into uncomfortable positions.”

Amorim also praised Zirkzee’s overall performance, noting, “Scoring two goals is always great for confidence, but more important was his fight and contribution in every situation. It was a good day for him and for the team.”

Looking ahead to the Arsenal game midweek, Amorim faces another tough decision. Will Hojlund take on Arsenal’s Gabriel in another physical duel, or will Zirkzee’s movement be better suited?

Another option could be Marcus Rashford, who thrived in a more withdrawn role against Everton, capitalizing on the space created by Zirkzee’s positioning. While Rashford has been effective, Amorim has expressed concerns about deploying him as a central striker, noting it sacrifices physicality and hold-up play.

As Amorim continues to evaluate his squad, it’s clear he’s committed to matching his selections to the specific demands of each opponent, a strategy that has so far yielded positive results.