Ruben Amorim, the Manchester United coach, has issued a warning to the club's teenage players, emphasizing the need for them to be prepared for the hostile environment they will face in the upcoming match against Leeds United. With a significantly depleted squad due to injuries and players away on international duty, Amorim is expected to give debuts to Jack Fletcher, Shay Lacey, and Bendito Mantato.

Amorim faces a challenging situation with eight first-team players unavailable for the weekend visit to Elland Road. Key players such as Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Mason Mount are sidelined with injuries. Additionally, Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumbo, and Amad Diallo are away representing their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fletcher, 18, has already made three appearances for United, featuring in the recent matches against Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Wolves. Lacey, also 18, played in the game against Aston Villa, while 17-year-old Mantato made his debut against Wolves.

When questioned about whether these young players can handle the pressure of playing against one of United's biggest rivals in a difficult away fixture, Amorim stated, "They have to." He acknowledged the hostile environment but emphasized that the young players need to be ready and gain experience. Amorim also recognized the difficulty of the situation for any player, even experienced ones. He drew a comparison to a previous experience at Athletic Bilbao, highlighting the intense atmosphere.

Amorim stressed the limitations of the squad due to the number of unavailable players. He affirmed that he would select a team capable of coping with the atmosphere at Elland Road and adapt his strategy to help them win the game.

Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Amorim suggested that he might not strengthen the squad. United had been interested in Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, but the player is now expected to join Manchester City instead. Amorim also downplayed the possibility of any players leaving Old Trafford during the transfer window and that there wouldn't be many changes to the squad.

Amorim acknowledged the importance of the match against Leeds to the fans and the rivalry between the two clubs. He also recognized Leeds' strengths, particularly their pace in attack. He said that Leeds have a lot of pace, and sometimes they struggle with pace. Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence in his team's ability to compete and win.