Mount’s injury won’t prevent him from playing against Wolves for Manchester United! Amorin explains the tactical change and the unexpected substitution’s reason.

Manchester United won 1-0 against Newcastle United, but Mason Mount was replaced after halftime due to injury, causing worries about squad availability. Ruben Amorin has already been without Bruno Fernandes, Cody Gakpo, De Ligt, and Maguire because of injuries. Still, reports suggest Mount’s substitution was just a safety measure, and he should be able to participate in the last home match of 2025 against Wolves. Mount recently mentioned he is close to regaining his peak form from his Chelsea days, making him crucial for the injury-hit Manchester United squad.

Amorin stated that Mount wanted to continue playing in the second half, indicating his injury was not severe. However, to avoid aggravating the condition, he decided not to risk the 25-year-old English midfielder. Amorin said, “He felt unwell at halftime, but he still wanted to play the second half, which is a positive sign. However, we cannot afford to lose any more players.”

Manchester United also hope that De Ligt and Maguire will recover in time for the final game of the year, which would prevent Amorin from running out of options. The Red Devils’ coach abandoned his stubborn use of the 3-4-3 formation against the “Magpies,” instead fielding a back four with Diogo Dalot, Eden Haven, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw.

“I think we’ve spent a lot of time together, gone through tough times, which sometimes benefits the team; experienced players help the younger ones,” Amorin explained. “In the first half, we proved that the four-back formation was the only way to create more threats. Using four defenders allowed many players to operate inside, even for ball control. I remember last year’s match when we lost the ball defending one-on-one on the wings, so we just tried to imagine how players feel on the pitch to make them more comfortable. Positioning Patrick Dogu further forward, where his responsibilities differ and he doesn’t have to worry about losing possession, I think helped him perform better. Ugart also played well today.”

However, Amorin’s adjustments in the second half faced criticism, especially when Casemiro was surprisingly substituted for Lenny Joro, who pointed at himself as if asking, “Is it really me being taken off?”

Manchester United legend Gary Neville commented, “Casemiro couldn’t believe the decision, and I was shocked too — truly surprising. I expected Zirkzee to replace Ugart and Jack Fletcher to drop back. But Amorin seemed intent on switching back to a five-defender setup.”

After taking the lead, Manchester United came under pressure from Newcastle, leading Amorin to effectively deploy six defenders: Joro, Haven, Lima, and Luke Shaw crowded the penalty area, Dogu moved back to left-back, and Dalot stayed at right-back. Amorin explained that while United didn’t play well, their fighting spirit was commendable.

Amorin said, “In reality, we played what felt like two matches in one, the whole team faced many hardships and difficulties. We performed well in the first half, but mainly focused on defense in the second half, relying on Cunha’s individual skill to create chances. I’ve had many matches where we played well but didn’t win; today was the opposite — the team endured struggles but ultimately took all three points.”

The Manchester United coach added, “We should understand that whether on or off the pitch, giving your all is what matters. I believe everyone gave their maximum effort. This belief is crucial; even with fewer players, they still trust they can win. I always emphasize not only improving individual performance but also facing challenges together at critical moments and defending with full commitment. Today, we truly achieved that.”

When explaining the substitution of Casemiro, Amorin said, “At that moment, I didn’t want to take off Cunha because I felt he was the only forward who could hold the ball and give us breathing space. Jack (Fletcher) had just come on, and Manuel (Ugart) had more stamina than Casemiro, so we took a bit of a risk. Newcastle made lots of runs near the corner area, and I felt Casemiro might struggle to cope.”

Despite Newcastle’s pressure, Manchester United extended their Boxing Day winning streak against the “Magpies.” Managers like Ferguson, Van Gaal, Solskjær, and Amorin all triumphed on Boxing Day. United will host Wolves on the last day of the year, potentially achieving Amorin’s second consecutive Premier League victory. However, fans remain somewhat concerned because when you doubt the Red Devils, they can win, but when you feel confident, they sometimes cause upsets.

Amorin concluded, “A clean sheet, four-back formation, Meno injured. I think that’s all we need to talk about, there’s no need for a post-match press conference. We can just go home and enjoy Boxing Day. In any case, we got the 3 points, and tomorrow, no one will remember the details of this match. We need to focus on the next game.”