How Manchester United Could Line Up Under Ruben Amorim

After a period of growing speculation, Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, with the Portuguese manager set to take charge on November 11. Amorim, 39, arrives at Old Trafford with an impressive track record at Sporting Lisbon, where he won two Portuguese league titles and two league cups, in addition to guiding the club to their first league title in 19 years during the 2020-21 season. His high-octane, possession-based football, characterized by a back three and aggressive pressing, has quickly made him one of the most highly sought-after managers in European football.

However, his arrival at United represents a significant tactical shift from the methods of Erik ten Hag. Under Ten Hag, Manchester United played a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on positional play, ball retention, and high pressing. But Amorim’s system has been built around a back three, fluid attacking rotations, and a more aggressive pressing game—concepts that could bring about a stylistic overhaul at Old Trafford. Here, we break down Amorim's tactical approach and how his methods might translate to Manchester United.

The Back Three: A New Era for United’s Defense

One of the most notable features of Ruben Amorim’s tactical setup at Sporting was his consistent use of a back three. In fact, Amorim’s Sporting side employed this formation in virtually every league and European match, with the 3-4-2-1 system being the most common. This structure allowed for a fluid defensive shape while maintaining possession and attacking width through the wing-backs.

At Manchester United, the transition from a four-man defense to a back three will be one of the most significant adjustments for both players and fans. The change could allow defenders to remain compact while offering more support to each other, which is something United have struggled with under Ten Hag, especially when full-backs push forward.

Matthijs de Ligt is a natural candidate to anchor this back three, given his leadership and experience. United's defensive duo of Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane could be complemented by de Ligt in the middle. Martínez, who has been a standout performer for United under Ten Hag, could thrive in the left-center-back position, mirroring the role of Gonçalo Inácio at Sporting, who was crucial in building play from the back.

The tactical freedom offered by the back three should benefit Martínez in particular. Amorim’s system relies on central defenders playing progressive passes to midfielders and attackers, and Martínez has demonstrated his ability to bypass the opposition press, as shown by his impressive stats for passes completed and defenders bypassed.

Harry Maguire could also be an option for the central role of the back three, given his experience, although his lack of regular playing time in a back four might make his adaptation to this new system more challenging. However, the extra defensive cover provided by the back three should help to mask some of Maguire’s deficiencies, particularly in one-on-one situations.

Wing-Backs: A New Role for United's Full-Backs

Amorim’s use of wing-backs at Sporting was vital to the team’s attacking play. With the back three providing security at the back, Amorim’s wing-backs—players like Pedro Porro and Nuno Santos—were tasked with providing width and contributing to the attack by delivering crosses, cutting inside, and linking up with the central midfielders and forwards.

At United, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui could be the natural choices to fill the wing-back roles, though both have predominantly played as traditional full-backs. The challenge for Amorim will be whether they can adapt to the more attacking, high-pressing demands of a wing-back role. In this setup, they will need to balance their attacking runs with defensive duties, particularly when opponents break on the counter.

Another possible solution could be to experiment with more attacking players in wing-back positions. For instance, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, or Amad Diallo could be considered for the left and right wing-back spots. This would follow a similar pattern to Amorim’s use of Nuno Santos, a former winger turned left wing-back, at Sporting. However, this tactical shift would require careful consideration of United’s defensive responsibilities, especially against stronger opposition.

Garnacho, in particular, is a candidate to play higher up the pitch and could be utilized in Amorim’s system in a similar way to Pedro Gonçalves at Sporting, who frequently drifts in from the left to support the attack centrally.

The Midfield Pivot: Shielding and Pressing

Amorim’s tactical philosophy places a heavy emphasis on defensive midfielders who are comfortable pressing high up the pitch and reclaiming possession. His Sporting side relied on a double pivot of ball-winning midfielders to break up opposition attacks, and Manuel Ugarte was a key figure in that role. Ugarte’s success under Amorim at Sporting came not just from his defensive actions, but also from his pressing ability, which allowed Sporting to launch quick counter-attacks.

At Manchester United, Amorim may deploy a similar system with Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo or Christian Eriksen in the double pivot. Casemiro's experience and ability to protect the backline make him a natural fit for the deeper role, while Mainoo could be used for his energy, pressing ability, and ball progression.

Bruno Fernandes, who was formerly coached by Amorim at Sporting before his move to United, could also be considered in a more attacking role behind the striker, similar to Gonçalves' role at Sporting. Given Fernandes’ creativity and goalscoring ability, this position would allow him to be more central, with the freedom to rotate with other attackers. This role would see Fernandes often drifting inside from the flanks, maximizing his ability to link play and make runs into the box.

Fluid Front Three: Pressing and Rotations

One of Amorim’s standout tactical elements is his fluid front three, which often rotates positions to break down opposition defenses. Sporting’s wide attackers, such as Marcus Edwards and Pedro Gonçalves, would frequently tuck inside and move between the lines, creating overloads and allowing the team to break through defensive structures.

At Manchester United, Marcus Rashford is likely to be a key part of this fluid attack, as he often cuts inside from the left flank. Bruno Fernandes could shift to the right, allowing Rashford to come inside while Fernandes drifts into central spaces. Rasmus Højlund, though not yet a prolific scorer, has the physical attributes and potential to play as a more traditional center-forward or as a fluid attacker in Amorim’s system. Amorim's emphasis on rotations would help increase Højlund’s involvement in United’s attacking play, which has been a problem under Ten Hag, where the striker has often been isolated.

Pablo Sarabia, one of Amorim’s key attacking players at Sporting, could serve as a blueprint for Antony, who is also a left-footed player. Antony would be expected to stay narrow, linking up with the midfielders and providing support to the central striker.

Aggressive Pressing: Intensity and High Lines

Defensively, Amorim’s Sporting side was one of the most intense teams in Portugal, pressing high up the pitch and trying to win possession in dangerous areas. This aggressive pressing game has often been an issue for Manchester United under Ten Hag, as the team has struggled to execute a cohesive high press, with players often caught out of position.

Under Amorim, United's front three would narrow their pressing to prioritize central spaces and force the opposition wide. The wing-backs would then press aggressively, while the midfielders would cover for each other and make decisive decisions about when to press and when to drop back into the defensive line.

In the absence of a high press, Amorim has often set his team up in a compact 5-2-3 or 5-4-1 shape, with the objective of forcing the opposition out wide. This allows the wing-backs to engage in high pressing, and the team can focus on preventing central passes. In this scenario, the midfielders will also shift across the pitch, closing down passing lanes and limiting space.

Ugarte’s Role in United’s Midfield

One of the most intriguing aspects of Amorim’s arrival at United is the potential for a reunion with Manuel Ugarte, who played a crucial role under Amorim at Sporting before his move to PSG. Ugarte’s ball-winning abilities and his capacity to press effectively in the final third make him an ideal fit for the demands of Amorim’s system. The midfielder would likely work alongside Casemiro or Mainoo to form a dynamic midfield pivot, tasked with breaking up opposition attacks and initiating quick transitions.

At United, Ugarte’s aggressive pressing could be key in enabling United to recover the ball high up the pitch and create immediate chances for their attackers. His ability to press centrally while also covering wide areas would provide a solid foundation for United’s defensive transition.

Adapting Amorim’s System at Old Trafford

Ruben Amorim’s appointment at Manchester United marks a new chapter in the club’s tactical evolution. His system has proven to be effective at Sporting Lisbon, but its implementation at United will require a period of adaptation. The switch to a back three, the more fluid attacking movements, and the higher pressing demands will require time for the players to adjust.

However, Amorim’s ability to nurture young talent, his tactical clarity, and