Jamie Carragher and Dimitar Berbatov discussed the potential line-up that soon-to-be Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim could deploy as his starting XI.
Ruben Amorim will officially become the new Manchester United manager from 11th November after he leaves Primeira Liga outfit Sporting CP.
United triggered the 39-year-old Portuguese manager’s release clause, with Sporting CP securing a £9.25m payout for the highly rated Amorim.
Amorim, who lifted two league titles with Sporting CP, will succeed Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout after the former Ajax boss was sacked by United last week.
Erik ten Hag suffered a poor start to the 2024-25 Premier League season and the Dutchman was axed from the club after the 2-1 defeat to West Ham in October.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was assistant manager to former United boss Ten Hag, has been serving as interim manager ahead of Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford.
Carragher and Berbatov at Man Utd
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher predicted how Manchester United could look under Ruben Amorim.
Carragher used one of Amorim’s preferred formations of 3-4-3, which has been used by the Portuguese at Sporting CP, and made a bold call with one first-team player.
The 46-year-old Sky Sports pundit raised eyebrows with the decision to place Alejandro Garnacho as a wing-back pick for Sporting CP manager Amorim.
“When you look at his set-up at Sporting at times, these players are asked to be really high, attacking and they’re going to have to be good in one-vs-one [situations],” Carragher said.
“But that’s when Man United are dominating the ball, maybe being at Old Trafford.
“But when you look at the fixture list, they’ve got Arsenal away early on and that will be very interesting.
“If you’re playing against [Bukayo] Saka and they’re dominating and they’re at home, on the front foot and Garnacho is getting asked to play as a left full-back.”
Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov wasted no time in making his feelings clear about Carragher’s position pick for Alejandro Garnacho.
“No, no, no,” he said.
Carragher on Man Utd midfield under Amorim
Carragher had Alejandro Garnacho out on one flank while Noussair Mazraoui was on the opposite wing of the 3-4-3 formation.
The former Liverpool and England defender then opted for a midfield partnership of Manuel Ugarte, who played under Amorim at Sporting CP, and Kobbie Mainoo.
“When I’ve seen Sporting play the two [central midfielders] don’t just sit here,” Carragher explained.
“They will push up and be really aggressive on the opposition’s players.
“It will be about energy there. How often do we see teams with three or four players in there?
“People talk about playing the box in there so it will be really interesting to see how they cope with that defensively.
“His out-of-possession set-up will be fascinating when he doesn’t have the best players or team in the league.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
