“He knows…” Rúben Amorim has three big Manchester United changes to make vs Man City

Rúben Amorim knows he has three significant changes to make when Manchester United travel across town to face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Rúben Amorim is gearing up his squad for a crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City, presenting another stern test for the club’s new head coach.

United enter the game buoyed by a 2-1 comeback victory over FC Viktoria Plzeň in the Europa League on Thursday night, with substitute Rasmus Højlund scoring twice to secure the win. Attention now turns back to domestic competition during the busy festive period.

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Manchester City find themselves in turmoil, having won just one of their last ten matches across all competitions. Earlier this season, Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Amorim’s Sporting, adding to their recent struggles.

With City’s hopes of a fifth consecutive Premier League title slipping away, United will look to inflict further misery on their rivals and climb up from 13th place in the table as the two sides meet at the Etihad Stadium.

Three big changes vs Man City

The last week has taught Rúben Amorim that he must make three significant changes as he lines up his side to face Manchester City.

Against Plzen, Højlund’s audition to be reinstated in the starting line up could not have gone more smoothly. He was a big reason United were able to save their disaster start in the Czech Republic, with Amorim himself even admitting that Højlund is improving.

“He is improving,” the boss explained. “I think he’s nearer the goal now. He knows better the movements that he has to do.

“He could score more this evening but he’s scoring, he’s working, he’s controlling better the ball. He’s improving and the other guys are also there to change the game from the bench and they did it.”

Secondly, Mason Mount is another player who has to start against the current Premier League champions. His 29-minute cameo was superb, and he was highlighted as United’s “main catalyst” on the night despite Højlund’s brilliance.

With Mount no doubt having to start in the No. 10 role, this begs the question of who joins him and Højlund up front, and this has to be Bruno Fernandes. Against Arsenal and Plzen, Fernandes started deeper but was caught in possession multiple times. The closer he is to the goal, the better his performance.

This, of course, means that there would be no space for Amad Diallo in the attack. However, against City, United will be looking for fast breaks, and this would be easier to conduct with the Ivorian international playing at a right wing-back, where he has excelled in the last month.

Moving Amad to the right to accommodate Fernandes would allow United to control possession well on the right flank as well as aid their attacking transitions.

Fernandes vacating the middle of the park would also allow Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte to play in the middle, which would sure up United’s defence. Alternatively, Kobbie Mainoo could slot in the middle with Ugarte – the pair have complemented each other well in the past, and Mainoo has previously proved his defensive acumen when needed.

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