Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has conceded that his club might find it tough during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) period as they are likely to lose key figures Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo for international duty.
The competition, which will be held in Morocco, starts on December 21 and ends on January 18. Both Mbeumo’s Cameroon and Diallo’s Ivory Coast teams have made it through to the next stage, while Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui may also be unavailable during those dates.
Individually, Mbeumo has done really well this season, scoring four goals and assisting a goal once in the Premier League, and to highlight one, he scored a brace against Brighton in the recent victory. On the other hand, Diallo has also been great and has complemented the right wing-back role along with Mbeumo excellently.
Before the United’s encounter with Nottingham Forest, Amorim commented on the difficulties of losing players to AFCON but he still expressed confidence in the depth of his squad. “We will have time to suffer,” he said. “We’re going to have a hard time, but at the same time, it is an opportunity for other players to show their worth.
“The game on Saturday will be the first anniversary of Amorim’s appointment and the Portuguese gaffer took the opportunity to look back to the time and managed to praise himself calling managing Manchester United “one of the biggest honours” of his career.
