We remember when Erik ten Hag benched Cristiano Ronaldo for the first few times. A clear signal that status and salary level do not automatically give VIP treatment or playing time. Then it seemed that the treatment of CR7 and other players went more into the slot “going to show who’s the boss”. Ruben Amorim shows from the start that he too is the boss, where the players line up equally, but where it seems like a more healthy “pre-match training” approach, compared to Ten Hag’s “freezer treatment” of players he didn’t like.
Against Manchester City last week, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were not in the matchday squad, the English press senses a potential situation with “frozen out” players and wonders if Amorm is giving the duo the same treatment this week. Ruben Amorim does not want to be part of that.
-We have one training session left, but they are in the same situation as all the other players. If they train well, then I have a choice to make. We’ll see after training. I expect the best from the players every day. Then we will see, says Amorim according to the club’s website.
Then we’ll see. Against Manchester City, Amorim had players on the pitch who all refused to give up against the reigning Premier League champions. As is well known, this gave the liberating victory in “Fergie-time”. It seems like Ten Hag’s freezer will be left unused going forward.
