The departure of Amad, Mbeumo and Mazraoui for Africa’s biggest sporting event has left United’s manager reviewing his tactics
Ruben Amorim is willing to try a different formation from 3-4-3, despite sticking steadfastly to his approach for over a year, the Manchester United manager has said.
Since taking charge in November 2024, Amorim has used a 3-4-3 formation in all 59 of his matches, including Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. It has led to serious criticism of the Portuguese as being too inflexible for the Premier League, although he has consistently warded off media pressure, insisting earlier this season that not even “the Pope” could make him change if he did not want to.
But with Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui away at the Africa Cup of Nations, United’s right-side has been hobbled, and Amorim acknowledged that it may now be the right time for a change.
“It will depend on the way we are playing that particular week,” Amorim said. “But if we have to change to a back four, we change to a back four.
“We have a big match [against Aston Villa]. We need to win. We need to try to find different ways of playing. Especially without Amad and Bryan, we lost some characteristics that are hard to find.”
United’s midfield options are further stretched by Casemiro’s suspension after his fifth yellow card of the season, opening the door for Kobbie Mainoo to start his first Premier League game since May.
Mainoo’s lack of minutes has also drawn criticism towards Amorim. United’s manager insisted the player needed to fight and have patience to make the starting XI in a club as big as United.
“Kobbie needs to fight for his job,” said Amorim. “I think that it is not a bad thing to be on the bench of Manchester United when you are 20-years-old. I remember [Cristiano] Ronaldo was on the bench, [Wayne] Rooney was on the bench sometimes, and this [the club] didn’t fall. Maybe the next game, Sunday, he is going to start.”
