Ruben Amorim told Manchester United star ‘will never trust or respect him’
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Ex-Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker believes Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has ‘lost all respect’ for Old Trafford boss Ruben Amorim. Zirkzee was hauled off in just the 33rd minute during United’s humbling 2-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle on Monday night.
![[Manchester United FC v Newcastle United FC - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2191928900.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Newcastle were already two goals up at that point and Amorim made the change due to Casemiro and Christian Eriksen’s struggles in midfield. Explaining his decision to replace Zirzkee before half-time, Amorim said: ‘You have to think about the team and also sometimes about the player because the player is suffering.
![[Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-1167216304.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘I was there a few years ago and I know that he wants it because I saw it during the week. That is the more important thing and he’s suffering during the game. ‘I felt the team was suffering and needed another midfielder to have more and then we started to have more ball with Kobbie Mainoo.
‘But it was really, really tough on me to do that and I talked with Josh about that because it’s important to express the message. ‘But I’m always thinking about the team and, in that moment, it was important for the team [for] Josh [to] go out.’.
Jeers echoed around Old Trafford as Zirzkee made his way off the pitch and went straight down the tunnel before later returning to the bench. Manchester United legend Gary Neville said he ‘felt sorry’ for Zirkzee, who has scored four goals in 26 appearances for the Red Devils following a £35.6m move from Atalanta last summer.
