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Reuben Amorim Deviated from his trusted 3-4-3 for the first time Manchester United As manager he experimented with a new form system for the Premier League match against Bournemouth.
At first glance, Played a 4-4 draw against Andoni Irola’s team This does not suggest that the change resulted in much improvement. But Amorim’s team were far more dynamic in attack and remained a constant threat throughout the game.
Amorim said before kick-off that United would need to “adapt” when Brian Mbeumou, Amad Diallo and Noucair Mazraoui depart for the Africa Cup of Nations and specifically said that his team “needs to learn from some of the mistakes they have made in the past”.
Critics of the Portuguese head coach have said he has stuck too closely to his 3-4-3 system since replacing Eric ten Hag last November. This was the system he used to great success at his previous club Sporting Lisbon but it has been ineffective so far at Old Trafford.
Amorim joked in September Even the Pope couldn’t convince him To change its constitution. He said, “This is my job. This is my responsibility. This is my life. So, I wouldn’t change it.”
What was different against Bournemouth?
At first glance and on paper, not much. When the team sheet fell through it looked as if Amorim had named Lenny Yarrow, Ayden Haven and Luke Shaw in a back three, while Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot were kept as the usual wing-backs.
- United Manchester XI: Lammens; yoro, heaven, shou; Amat, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Blessed, Mountain, Cunha
But when the match started, United’s style on the ball looked different. Yarrow played as a more traditional right back, with Shaw tucking in to join Haven and Dalot deployed on the left.
Amad was allowed to move forward and link up with Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes to support Brian Mbumo. Casemiro was typically the sitting midfielder as Fernandes moved forward.
This created something of a 4-1-3-2 formation with Mbumo and Cunha as strikers, Amad on the right, Mount on the left and Fernandes at number 10. When Bournemouth had the ball it became somewhat like a 4-4-2.
- United Manchester XI: Lammens; Yoro, Heaven, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Fernandes; Ama, Mount; Mbeumo, Cunha
How did it feel?
First part, ok. The second part is not as good.
Manchester United had 17 shots in the first half, the most of any side in the Premier League so far this season, as well as an xG of 2.62.
United led 2–1 at the break but the second half would be remembered as one of the most chaotic halves in Premier League history, with the points shared in a 4–4 draw.
However, overall, there appeared to be far more threat and danger in United’s play. And although Bournemouth enjoyed spells, Amorim’s team also had better balance.
The hosts were able to sustain the attacks and even looked aggressive at times. In the new-look attack, Amad, Mbeumo, Cunha, Fernandes and Mount coordinated and linked up brilliantly.
“I think it’s the best I’ve seen Manchester United, certainly in the first half, under Amorim,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. Probably going back to the first game of the season with Arsenal.
“United were brilliant in those first 25 to 30 minutes. It was almost Sir Alex Ferguson back – fast, attacking football, energetic people, running forward, being positive on the front foot, winning the ball back quickly.”
Amad scored the opener and his advanced position allowed him to get on the end of Dalot’s cross after Cunha missed first contact. The second goal came from a set-piece with Casemiro’s header, but you can’t say United didn’t deserve to be ahead.
The second half was chaotic and Bournemouth took advantage of United’s defensive weaknesses. Amorim’s side have kept just one clean sheet this season and are missing senior centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
What did Amorim say after full-time?
“A lot of good things, but a lot of things to work on. We don’t win games in the details sometimes because it’s back four, back three, back five.
“It’s the details we need to work on, understanding the pace of the game. You need to be more clinical, because today against a very good team we create a lot of chances to win the game.”
“We need to take into account that today’s performance was different from the previous two performances at home. This is also a point we pay attention to. It is completely different. The result is the same.”
“At one point, it’s disappointing, but the performance is different. That’s the fun part of being a manager – you try to find solutions with the players we have.
After last season, I think we’re ready to deal with whatever they throw at us. But let’s move on. We already knew. We suffered some injuries. All the England teams had injuries. “We will try to find a different way to score goals.”