Ruben Amorim has been in charge of Manchester United for over a year and he as now insisted he is ‘willing’ to adapt his tactical approach following continued criticism
Ruben Amorim has dismissed claims that he’s “obsessed” with his tactics at Manchester United, while also confirming that he’s “prepared” to adjust the team’s strategy to secure victories.
Since taking over from Sporting Lisbon, Amorim has staunchly defended his 3-4-3 formation, even going as far as saying that not even the Pope could convince him to alter United’s tactical system. The formation has sparked debate, but after guiding his team to victories against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton in October, Amorim was crowned Premier League manager of the month, effectively silencing any rumours about his future.
However, United have kicked off November with two draws and a loss to Everton, who managed to snatch three points at Old Trafford despite being down to 10 men for 77 minutes due to a red card.
Amorim faced accusations of stubbornness following the Everton match, but he maintains that he is flexible. DAZN Portugal has launched a new Q&A segment on YouTube in which Amorim was quizzed about whether he would revert to the “fluid attacking style” he employed at Sporting, where there was no set striker and the front line would constantly rotate.
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During Amorim’s tenure at Sporting, Viktor Gyokeres was the preferred striker, but the formation was designed around rotations, with Gyokeres tasked with moving wide, linking play and dropping deep. The 40-year-old revealed United have already experimented with a flexible attacking approach this season and, notably, insisted he was “willing” to explore fresh tactical approaches, despite critics believing he is “fixated.”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Amorim explained: “We did it against Liverpool, it wasn’t with Bryan Mbeumo, it was with Cunha. And it’s an option that we have, and nowadays, everyone, I think not only in the English league but in the Portuguese league, in all leagues, there’s a great variation in how things are structured.
“We might say it’s a 4-4-2, but five minutes later it’s a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3. And therefore I’m willing to do anything, contrary to what many people think that I’m too fixated on one thing.
“I simply start with a basic foundation, but obviously, we can use it in the future. And we’ve already thought about that with Bryan [playing central] because he’s very strong in transitions.
“I do think it’s the best position for him [out wide] because he likes to be hidden, he doesn’t like people watching him. He can attack, be more dangerous on one of the flanks, either the right or the left, rather than as a striker, but it’s a good option, therefore I’ll be able to use it in the future as I did several times at Sporting.”
Amorim has consistently defended his tactics. Earlier this year, he stated: “The problem of our team is not the system. We have a lot of problems, we are trying to work on these problems, of course every system needs different characteristics. But I was always really clear. I have one idea.
“I am still really confident because I have an idea how to play football. I will not change that, no matter what. And I’m not talking about the system, it’s the way I see football, I will not change that.” United currently sit 10th in the Premier League table, just three points shy of fourth place.
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