What is Manchester United’s style of play?
This is a question that has been asked over the past decade as the club tries to find an identity in the post-Ferguson era.
It was not the turgid football David Moyes tried to play. It was not Louis van Gaal’s dull approach, and it certainly was not Jose Mourinho’s defensive tactics.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came closest to helping United re-discover an identity, but he failed to mesh this with a winning formula. Erik ten Hag showed he had the touch to win trophies – with an approach built on quicksand that eventually caught up to him.
Ruben Amorim’s attempt was the most egregious of all. He tried to rip up everything and introduce a new formula. His 3-4-2-1 formation was ultimately rejected by the players, the fans, and the board.
What Amorim ended up doing as part of his tactical revolution was killing off Manchester United’s wingers.
Amad was shifted to wing-back and Antony was immediately discarded. Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were sold, and there were other reasons for that – but centrally the fallouts occurred because they no longer fitted into Amorim’s system.
Now under Michael Carrick, the winger is making a comeback, and Manchester United are stacking up options. The club’s identity is returning…
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Wingers are key to Manchester United’s identity
When you attempt to answer the original question about Manchester United’s style of play, you come back to exciting wingers each and every time.
From Billy Meredith a century ago to George Best in the 1960s, wingers have always electrified Manchester United fans.
The position was integral to Sir Alex Ferguson, who built his first great team around Ryan Giggs, with help from Andrei Kanchelskis and Lee Sharpe.
Cristiano Ronaldo became one of the club’s greatest ever players under Ferguson as a winger, before later remodelling himself as a striker at Real Madrid.
The first thing Michael Carrick did when he took over at United was to reintroduce wingers to the team – and it was spectacular, with a demolition of City at Old Trafford.
Now entering the 2026/27 season, United are committing to using wingers, building a squad of players for now and the future, stacked with options.
Here is a look at seven wingers who are part of United’s future – not including Marcus Rashford amid a lack of clarity over his next move.
Amad
Amad showcased his quality at the World Cup for Ivory Coast, and Manchester United have seen him at his very best too. Amad was key to United destroying City, and he remains the last United player to score a hat-trick. He is the oldest player on this list at 24.
Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Dorgu has been a revelation when he has played on the wing for Manchester United. Last season he scored goals against City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton. Impressively he is capable of playing on the left and right, and at only 21, has huge potential.
Shea Lacey
Shea Lacey made his Manchester United debut last season and he is in line for a first team role in 2026/27. The England youth international winger has got it all, an ability to score, create, and dribble past opponents. The 19-year-old is too good for academy football and is ready for a breakout.
Man Utd have confirmed a deal to sign 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson from Tottenham – What are your thoughts?
Tynan Thompson
Manchester United’s newest addition, Tynan Thompson cost United just £4 million to sign from Tottenham, with the club taking a punt on his potential. Thompson is a promising left-winger with an eye for goal, who likes to cut inside and shoot. He will be looking to make his debut this season.
Noah Ajayi
Noah Ajayi was one of Manchester United’s best players at academy level in 2025/26 after establishing himself as a key part of the under-18s side. Ajayi has been capped for Germany at youth level, and scored in the Premier League Cup Final, and during the FA Youth Cup run. His pace and ability to shoot from distance makes him a standout option on the left, but he may be 12 months away from a breakthrough.
Bendito Mantato
An injury has meant that Bendito Mantato has not yet re-joined the squad for pre-season, but he remains a player to watch. Mantato has already made his first team debut and is an England youth international. Thr right-sided player has 15 goals in 27 games for United in under-18 league games.
JJ Gabriel
The jewel of United’s academy, JJ Gabriel could become United’s youngest ever first team player. Gabriel is not strictly a winger due to his ability to play across the front three, but he frequently lined up wide last season and this is his best route into the first team. He scored 27 goals in all competitions for the under-18s last season.
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