Gary Lineker has highlighted Amad as a great example of a problem that still persists at Manchester United under Rúben Amorim.
Rúben Amorim named an unchanged starting XI as Manchester United travelled to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
Both sides began with intent, creating early opportunities, but Forest enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. Despite the hosts’ pressure, it was United who struck first when Casemiro headed home from a corner that many Forest supporters felt should not have been awarded.
Forest pushed for an equaliser before the interval but could not find a breakthrough. After the restart, Sean Dyche’s side came out strong and were rewarded within minutes as Morgan Gibbs-White nodded past Senne Lammens to level the score.
Just 39 seconds later, Nicolò Savona reacted quickest inside the box to put Forest in front and leave United chasing the game. The contest opened up with chances at both ends, and with ten minutes remaining, Amad produced a superb first-time volley to bring Amorim’s side back on level terms.
Amad came close to finding a late winner, but Murillo’s excellent goal-line clearance ensured the points were shared after an entertaining match at the City Ground.
Amad shining despite playing out of position
While naturally a right winger, Amad has been deployed as a right wing-back since Amorim took over, but has enjoyed some success there, linking up excellently with summer signing, Bryan Mbeumo, down United’s right flank.
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Gary Lineker reflected on the Ivorian’s performance against Nottingham Forest, saying how he is putting in some great performances despite not playing in his preferred position in Amorim’s system.
“I think Amad is probably a really good example of that [playing well out of his natural position]. You could see the positives of his game, but also the fact that he is not a defender.
“He’s been asked to play as a wing-back, but he’s not a wing-back, he’s a winger or a forward, so at the minute you can see where they still haven’t necessarily got the players to suit the system.”
Still work to be done after one year in charge
Having now been at the helm at Manchester United for a full year, it would be easy to categorise his tenure on the whole as a disaster, with his side’s 15th-place league finish and disappointing Europa League final loss last season.
Amorim, however, was very outspoken about how he would have preferred to have joined the club at the end of a season, rather than at the start of November as it panned out.
While a lot was done to overhaul United’s disappointing forward line from last season, there are still regular starters in the squad that don’t necessarily fit the mould of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 tactical system.
Amad is a great example of this, but has adapted to life well slightly deeper as a wing-back. Captain, Bruno Fernandes has also fallen victim to the tactical changes, playing in a midfield pivot rather than as a no.10, where he has thrived since joining the club.
Despite signing Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu at the start of the year, Amorim has preferred to use Diogo Dalot as a left wing-back this season. The Portuguese international, who is traditionally a right-back, has struggled to adapt on the left flank, with his performances often being critiqued.
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