Ruben Amorim has been Manchester United manager for more than a year and has insisted he is “delighted” to change his tactical approach following continued criticism.
Ruben Amorim has dismissed claims that he is “obsessed” with his tactics at Manchester United, also admitting he is “ready” to adjust his team’s strategy to ensure victory.
Since taking over at Sporting Lisbon, Amorim has remained adamant about his 3-4-3 formation, going so far as to say that not even the Pope could persuade him to change United’s tactical system. The formation was controversial, but after leading the team to victories over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton in October, Amorim was named Premier League Manager of the Month, effectively silencing rumors about his future.
However, United started November with two draws and one defeat against Everton, but snatched three points at Old Trafford despite being down to 10 men for 77 minutes due to a red card.
Amorim was criticized for his stubbornness after the Everton game, but insists he is flexible. DAZN Portugal has launched a new Q&A segment on YouTube, in which Amorim was asked whether he would return to the “fluid attacking style” he used at Sporting. In other words, there was no fixed striker, and the front line was constantly rotated.
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During Amorim’s time at Sporting, Victor Gokeres was the preferred striker, but the formation was designed around rotation, with Gokeres tasked with moving wide, linking play and dropping deep. The 40-year-old revealed that United have already experimented with a flexible attacking approach this season, and claimed in particular that he is “willing” to explore new tactical approaches despite critics believing he is “obsessed”, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Amorim explained: “We did it against Liverpool, but it wasn’t with Brian Mbeumo, it was with Cunha. And that’s an option that we have and I think today, guys, there’s a huge variation in the structure of things, not only in the English league but also in the Portuguese league, in any league.”
“You might say it’s a 4-4-2, but five minutes later it’s a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3. So contrary to a lot of people thinking I’m too attached to one thing, I’m willing to do anything.”
“I’m just starting with the basic fundamentals, but obviously I can use that in the future. And I’m already thinking about that with Brian (who plays center) because he’s very strong in transition.
“I think it’s the best position (out wide) for him, because he likes to hide and he doesn’t like to be seen. He can attack and be more dangerous on either flank, on the right or on the left, rather than as a striker, but it’s a good option. So he could use it in the future, as he did several times at Sporting.”
Amorim has consistently defended his tactics. Earlier this year, he said: “The problem with our team is not the system. We have many problems and we are working on these problems. Of course, every system requires different characteristics. But I have always been clear: I have one idea.
“I’m still really confident because I have an idea of how to play football and I’m not going to change that no matter what. And I’m not talking about a system, it’s the way I look at football and I’m not going to change that.” United currently sit 10th in the Premier League, just three points off fourth.
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