Ruben Amorim has long insisted that his 3-4-3 system is something he is wedded to, but Manchester United needs change, and he has hinted at a U-turn on his hardline stance.
Right now, results are the only thing that will save Ruben Amorim from what looks like an inevitable fate. Having won just nine Premier League matches from 33, something has to change.
Manchester United haven’t been anywhere near good enough for a long time, and Amorim’s insistence on his 3-4-3 system has left fans frustrated.
Just a few weeks back, Amorim joked that even the Pope wouldn’t be able to make him change his system. However, with Sunderland on Saturday now looking like a decisive clash, has he had a change of heart?
Under intense scrutiny, Amorim may be about to deal his final card in an effort to save his Old Trafford career.
Ruben Amorim makes a promise that the failing Manchester United system will change
Over almost an entire season’s worth of games, it is blatantly obvious that Amorim’s system doesn’t work, or at least he doesn’t have the players to make it effective.
Despite this, Amorim has United sitting fourth in expected points this season, and top of the expected goals charts. Success going forward has been counteracted by United being a bottom-three side in the league defensively.
These problems are both individual error-based and system-inflicted, but the system may finally be about to undergo some level of change.
Speaking with Owen Hargreaves for TNT Sports earlier this week, Amorim suggested that the system is going to change and evolve, which will be music to many fans’ ears.
“The fun part is trying to adapt the way you see football against every system of the opponent. I am always saying the same thing: this is going to evolve, we are going to change the system, but it is not a normal system.”
This promise is a final cast of the dice by Amorim, as if nothing changes, he is not likely to make it too much further as United head coach.
Change in the way the system sets up, personnel, or attitude to youth would all be boxes ticked and leave the fans firmly behind Amorim, as the major concern has been his reluctance to change.
Ruben Amorim needs to show immediate change to prove himself to fans
While changes to the system are an exciting potential outcome to the pressure currently on Amorim, we will need to see it to believe it.
From minute one against Sunderland, Amorim needs to have his side controlling possession, looking solid defensively and not conceding possession so easily.
One easy fix which could be implemented this weekend is not having both defensive midfielders jumping forward in the press leaving massive gaps between the lines and the back three being over-exposed.
Instead, have Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte sit deep while Bruno Fernandes can have license to press. Alternatively, if the two midfielder press is pivotal, let United’s back three push up to limit the space once again.
Nobody expects Amorim to rip up his footballing philosophy, but there are smaller tweaks he can make to see improvements and enough wins to keep his job.
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