Manchester United: Ruben Amorim issues response to bombshell Bruno Fernandes interview | OneFootball

United travel to Villa in a crucial fixture in top four race

Ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League encounter with Aston Villa, Ruben Amorim issued responses to both Bruno Fernandes’ comments and Kobbie Mainoo’s brother sporting a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt.

Club captain Fernandes surprisingly revealed in an interview with Canal 11 that the club had wanted him to depart in the summer, which left him “hurt”, while Kobbie Mainoo’s brother wore and posted a picture of himself wearing a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ shirt at Old Trafford, in protest of the midfielder’s lack of game time under Amorim.

Now, United prepare to face a top-four rival in Villa, who occupy third in the Premier League table.

Unai Emery’s side are three points off league leaders Arsenal, and have a five-point cushion on fourth-placed Chelsea.

The Red Devils, meanwhile, are sixth, two adrift of the Champions League places and tied on points with fifth-placed Crystal Palace.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Amorim said that Fernandes had held a conversation with the United hierarchy about his bombshell interview.

"He said what he is feeling,” Amorim said of his skipper.

“We already know the noise but he talked with the board and I think everything is clear.

"We just spoke about his feelings and he needs to answer that, not me. He gives everything and puts everything on the line. We need to step up and also have that feeling.

“He is a big example in the group. He spoke his feelings and when I watch him training and playing, he is a special character."

On the Mainoo shirt and picture, Amorim insisted that it would not affect his thinking for his starting XI against Villa.

"No [it won't affect team selection],” he continued.

“It was not Kobbie who wore the t-shirt. He is going to play if we feel he is the right guy. That is not an issue. I am not going to do something to Kobbie because of someone in his family."

On the injury front, Amorim revealed that it is just central defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire that are sidelined for the trip to Villa Park, but that game will be the first where they will not have Bryan Mbeumo or Amad Diallo, with both now on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Noussair Mazraoui did not feature against Bournemouth, leading to confusion as to whether he was allowed to play or not before joining up with Morocco.

"I think everyone else is well,” Amorim said of his squad.

“We have one more training but I think the rest of the guys are good to go. Nobody recovers, nobody is out. Just the guys you already know."