Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to play defender Harry Maguire as a makeshift forward in the final moments of the defeat to Nottingham Forest. 

United suffered a 1-0 defeat to third-placed Forest at the City Ground, thanks to Anthony Elanga’s first-half effort against his former side, but came close to equalising through Maguire with virtually the last kick of the game.

The substitute climbed off the bench in the 88th minute and poked his effort towards goal, only to see it cleared off the line by Murillo with seconds to go in the game.

“In the end of the game, when the opponent is protecting the box, they are comfortable,” Amorim said in his post-match press conference.

“We can reach the final third but we have to put the ball into the box, as it is hard to make the combinations. Harry Maguire, when he is attacking set pieces, is maybe the best player in the team.

“Inside the box, you are not a defender, you are a striker. Put one man who is really good in there to score the goal.”

United had a total of 23 shots on the evening, six of them being on target, but were unable to call Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels into any form of meaningful action until he was beaten by Maguire’s effort, only to be rescued by the timely boot of team-mate Murillo.

When asked about United’s struggles in front of goal, Amorim continued: “That is clear. We created some chances but we could create more with the possession we had.

“We reached the final third a lot of times but we need to be better. It is important to score goals and we have a lack of goals.

“We put Forest in the place they wanted to be. They have fast players in transitions, we pushed forward but in the final third, we were not good enough.”