Harry Amass and Chido Obi-Martin appeared to hit back at Ruben Amorim on social media after the top coach criticised the Manchester United kids.
United welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Monday night knowing that a win will move them into the highest five.
But ahead of the Premier League clash, Amorim has landed himself in hot water after bizarrely and harshly criticising two of the club’s academy talents.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Portuguese yet again defended his treatment of Kobbie Mainoo, claiming he had no issues with using young, homegrown players.
But then, he claimed that Amass, currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, and Obi-Martin, each of whom made their senior debuts last season under Amorim, weren’t performing well.
Get your football fix
Punchy evaluation, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts sent straight to your inbox – join, it’s an open goal.
‘After all, he’s not playing so many games, but Kobbs, he had opportunities, especially last 12 months. Everyone had,’ Amorim said.
‘Especially last 12 months, everyone had. Amass is now struggling within the Championship. Chido isn’t at all times a starter in U21. All these guys played when a whole lot of people were saying, sack the manager.’
Amorim later called out one other academy graduate in Toby Collyer, adding: ‘He’s from the academy, he played here, went to West Bromwich, he’s not playing. He played for Manchester United.’
It has been suggested that Amorim was indirectly criticising Amass but reasonably referring to Wednesday as an entire, with the club all-time low of the Championship having been given an 18-point deduction after going into administration.
In any case, it’s not gone down well, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that those within the academy said to be ‘disillusioned’ with the comments.
Furthermore, each Amass and Obi Martin appeared to answer the remarks on Monday in now-deleted posts on their Instagram stories.
The previous posted an image of himself together with his Sheffield Wednesday Player of the Month award for November, while the latter shared a photograph of himself celebrating after scoring for the Red Devils youth side.
It has also been reported that other academy players, including Mainoo, have liked posts critiquing Amorim.
Left-back Amass, 18, has been an ever-present in Wednesday’s side, earning loads of plaudits regardless of the Hillsborough club’s problems.
Striker Obi-Martin, 18, has been out of the United Under-21s line-up for the previous few games but has five goals and two assists in his seven starts for the team.
Even the jab at Collyer seems unfair provided that midfielder’s lack of minutes this season is especially due to injuries, with West Brom boss Ryan Mason tipping the 21-year-old to come back good within the second-half of the campaign.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Man Utd 4-4 Bournemouth: United drop more points at home in Premier League classic
MORE: Man Utd plotting ‘surprise’ transfer move for £40m Premier League star in January
MORE: Ben White injury update provides one other headache for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta