Man Utd 3-0 Leicester (Fernandes 17′, Kristiansen 38′ OG, Garnacho 82′)
OLD TRAFFORD — There is both excitement and apprehension about the prospect of Ruben Amorim instilling a three-at-the-back system at Manchester United.
The defensive players at the club do seem to suit such a formation, when all fit, but many who were forced through the Louis van Gaal years remember afternoons where you’d rather have been watching paint dry, a 3-5-2 setup yielding very little to get a stagnant Old Trafford off their seats.
What has somewhat got lost among the three-at-the-back debates, however, is what Amorim will bring further forward.
The incoming boss has been at pains to point out that he will need to adapt his approach to the Premier League, but having transformed the fortunes of all three clubs he has taken charge of previously, he is still expected to adhere to the majority of his footballing principles in Manchester.
And with Amorim-ball, the No 10 is king. The Sporting Lisbon team-sheet says 3-4-3, but in truth, those flanking Swedish goal machine Viktor Gyokeres are not conventional wide forwards, like Pep Guardiola and his aversion to utilising full-backs in their orthodox roles.
Amorim instead gives two in his frontline licence to roam infield and become de facto No 10s. And those spaces, or even half spaces, Francisco Trincao and Pote have picked up this season have been crucial to Sporting’s phenomenal start to the season, contributing to 20 goals between them in all competitions.
If Amorim is to stick to what has got him this far, United are not short of No 10 options. Ones who can be equally as devastating are less ubiquitous.
Bruno Fernandes will be one, of that there can be no doubt. Especially now he has recovered from his severe bout of profligacy. His superb opener that set United on their way to a second victory over Leicester City in the space of two weeks took him to four goals in four since Erik ten Hag left, after none since April prior to that.
Like Wayne Rooney before him, Fernandes had been somewhat a victim of his own versatility under Ten Hag. More often than not he played off the forward line, but one week he could find himself a false nine, the next on the right of a front three. It was not beyond the realms of possibility to see the skipper play in a holding role.
There is unlikely to be such upheaval once his fellow countryman settles in at Carrington. The burning question is who plays alongside him.
Mason Mount, if he is still alive, is an obvious choice. Joshua Zirkzee could play there, while Christian Eriksen, enjoying somewhat of a resurgence in form, is more than capable.
Amorim, however, thrives on intensity, such as the heat that caused Manchester City to wilt in Lisbon in midweek.
And in two performances bursting with hunger and desire rarely seen around these parts, in the space of four days, Amad Diallo has given himself every chance to starting out as top pick to be Fernandes’ flashy sidekick.
Alejandro Garnacho is more productive in front of goal, but he is one who thrives on being out wide and cutting inside. It remains to be seen how he can be shoehorned into Amorim’s team.
Amad possesses the footwork and presence of mind – something a raw Garnacho still lacks – to be a success more centrally. The back-heel for Fernandes’ opener caught everyone, other than his skipper, off guard, giving Fernandes the space to pick his spot. Such ingenuity will be taken into great consideration as the new boss heads to England to begin the mother of all restoration projects.
A pair that compliments each other so well could also unlock Rasmus Hojlund’s potential, with the Dane starved of much service since returning from injury.
Amorim will try something new, that much is certain. Never did a club need another reset. Fernandes and Amad together can be just that breath of fresh air United’s underperforming force desperately needs.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/lOUbzJB
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