Amorim: It’s hard to leave players out

Amorim is also realistic to know the opening of the transfer window will lead to more speculation around outgoings, as well as any incomings, with the World Cup approaching at the end of the campaign.

Yet he has rightly pointed out that things can change very quickly in football and, again, has pointed to Casemiro as an example to his colleagues.

“Around the training ground, the mood seems so much brighter than it was,” he said. “First of all, they understand, I prove that anyone can play, and everyone has to do the same things, not in the same way, but there are some things that everyone, no matter what is your name, you have to do it to play for Manchester United.

“And that can help to manage. I try to explain all the time to the players that we are not just playing today, not just this year, but then the next seasons. So they feel that they are part of the journey, and that we are part of something more bigger than just one game or one season.

“So they are part of our path. And then I show also to them that Casemiro was not part of the starting XI, he was behind, and then he fought. He won the place, and if you win the place, you will be playing. So I think that helped them to understand that I’m trying to be fair, and they are part of something very special that is very important to us.”