Ruben Amorim suggests Harry Maguire is 'maybe the best player' at Manchester United in one area

Manchester United fell to defeat on Tuesday night as Ruben Amorim’s side lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The international break came at a bad time for Manchester United, halting momentum after beating Real Sociedad and Leicester City.

Ruben Amorim was hoping to recapture that spark at Nottingham Forest, but it wasn’t to be for United.

Forest beat United 1-0 with Anthony Elanga, who once called Old Trafford home, scoring the game’s only goal.

Elanga drove from his own half to score a stunning counter-attacking goal, handing Forest all three points.

United had plenty of chances but couldn’t find the net, with Harry Maguire coming so close to scoring late on.

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Ruben Amorim on Harry Maguire

Maguire started on the bench for United, but was brought on for Leny Yoro late in the game.

Yet, rather than replace Yoro at the back, Maguire was deployed as a makeshift striker with United desperately seeking a late winner.

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The plan nearly worked; Maguire appeared to have scored a late equaliser from close range before Forest defender Murilo pulled off a brilliant clearance.

United defender Maguire at least caused some chaos in the box, and Amorim explained his thinking after the final whistle.

Speaking to United’s official website, Amorim suggested that Forest’s strong back line was packing the penalty area and making it difficult for United to play combinations.

The direct option into Maguire became appealing to Amorim, who praised Maguire as possibly the best player at United in terms of attacking crosses in the box.

Amorim thought that Maguire and ‘really good’ aerial ability could provide something different for United, and his plan so nearly worked late in the day.

“In the end of the game, when the opponent is just protecting the box, if you look at the defenders of Nottingham, they are really comfortable,” said Amorim.

“And then with a line of six, not five, a line of six, we can reach the final third but then we have to put the ball inside the box because it’s hard to make the combinations to get inside the box to score goal.

“Harry Maguire, when he’s attacking in set-pieces, is maybe the best player we have in our team, so inside the box, you are not a defender, you are a striker. So it was that idea to put in one man who is really good in the air to score a goal,” he added.

Ruben Amorim copies Sporting tactic at Manchester United

The idea of throwing the big man up front late on is one that has been prevalent in English football for many years.

Amorim went with that option against Forest, but it’s something he actually utilised at his former club Sporting.

Speaking to beIN SPORTS (above), Amorim admitted utilising the same tactic with giant centre back Sebastian Coates, formerly of Liverpool.

Coates racked up 22 goals in 179 games under Amorim, compared to 30 goals in 365 games throughout the rest of his career.

Amorim saw something in Coates and his aerial ability in the box, with Maguire seemingly set to take that role for him at United moving forward.

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