Amorim admits Mbeumo and Amad AFCON absences will test Manchester United’s depth

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will pose a significant challenge for his squad, with key players Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo set to represent Cameroon and Ivory Coast respectively.

The tournament, scheduled from December 21 to January 18, will temporarily deprive United of two of their most dynamic attacking options.

Mbeumo has been instrumental in United’s recent Premier League resurgence, while Diallo has shown flashes of promise in Amorim’s evolving system.

‘We will have time to suffer,’ Amorim joked during his press conference. ‘We are going to struggle a little bit, but we already knew it’s going to be an opportunity.’

Despite the looming absences, the Portuguese coach remains optimistic about the squad’s ability to adapt.

He praised the performances of fringe players in training and hinted that several are ready to step up.

‘There are players that should be playing,’ he said. ‘But it’s hard with one game to take some players from the team, because they are doing well also during the training in games.’

Amorim emphasized that while the characteristics of the team may shift, the tactical identity and momentum should remain intact.

‘They are understanding the way we want to play,’ he said. ‘If we are improving on that, the change of characteristics is not going to change the idea or the momentum of the team.’