Ruben Amorim needs three points this weekend when Sunderland comes to Old Trafford, and Owen Hargreaves demanded one Manchester United change.
Despite sitting fourth for expected points this season, Manchester United’s campaign has been a failure as Ruben Amorim’s side sits 14th in the table ahead of taking on Sunderland this weekend.
Therefore, it has become a must-win tie for Amorim, as United need to find a turning point and at this stage only three points will guarantee his safety beyond Saturday’s 3 pm kick-off.
Ahead of the game, quotes emerged with Amorim suggesting he is set to change the system, which has seen him pick up just 34 points in 33 games as the United head coach.
United need to make several changes against Sunderland, with Owen Hargreaves now outlining where he wants Amorim to shake things up.
Owen Hargreaves tells Ruben Amorim he must make Bryan Mbeumo change
United’s problems this season have been in front of goal at both ends, underperforming in terms of goals scored and overperforming in those conceded.
So to fix the former issue, former United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves has suggested to TNT Sports that Amorim find a way to get his three best players into the front line.
“I’d love to see Bruno play as a 10, maybe with Mbeumo as a No. 9,” he added. ‘If you have Cunha and Bruno playing as two 10s plus Mbeumo, that’s good.
“Maybe play Amad as a wing-back on the left if you want to stay with the formation. I just think it’s harsh on Bruno, him being criticised. I can’t imagine where they’d be without him. I said that to him last year, towards the end of the season before the Europa League final.
“They decided to get goals and sign proven Premier League players in Cunha and Mbeumo, which I like, but now Bruno has to play deeper to get on the ball and create. He’s not playing his natural position; he’s playing deeper.
“He’s playing as a box-to-box midfielder. Bruno’s one of the best creators in the division. So you’ve got to play him in his natural position.
“But because they play two 10s, you could argue Man Utd’s two best players last season were Amad and Bruno. They were the two 10s, and then they went and signed two more 10s in Cunha and Mbeumo when you didn’t have a keeper or a striker.”
Amad, on the left, fixes United’s Patrick Dorgu issue with the Dane not equipped for the wing-back role he’s been asked to play in. While this idea also gets Kobbie Mainoo into the team, likely in the pivot alongside Casemiro.
Manchester United look more balanced with Hargreaves’ suggested changes
One glaring absence from the line-up that United could field with Hargreaves’ changes implemented is that Benjamin Sesko would be benched.
However, right now the team above looks far more balanced than the one United have been struggling to win games with all season.
Amad is a much more natural wing-back on the left, with his left foot able to get crosses in, while Mbeumo’s running in behind would be a dream for a more advanced Fernandes. In addition, playing up front is Mbeumo’s most clinical role as he scored 13 times in 31 games in the position.
United would have to move away from playing direct football with this team, as the height of Sesko is absent, but on paper, it is a pretty solid plan by Hargreaves.
Now we just have to see if Amorim makes a change at all.
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