Erik ten Hag’s likely XI as Manchester United’s 24/25 formation ‘revealed’

Erik ten Hag’s ideal formation for Manchester United next season has reportedly been revealed as he chooses the XI he will build from during 2024/25.

Last campaign, Erik ten Hag had to deal with an unprecedented amount of injury issues at Manchester United, which meant that many players had to play out of position, and tactics had to be adjusted as a a result of this.

At the end of 2023/24, including during the FA Cup final win, Bruno Fernandes played as a false nine, Diogo Dalot as a left-back, and Casemiro as a centre-back alongside Jonny Evans, a fifth-choice player, across a variety of formations.

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However, with the majority of the club’s players now fit, bar a few long-term issues, Ten Hag will welcome a large portion of his team back to the Carrington training complex on Monday morning. This does not include those who have been taking part in either Copa America or the 2024 European Championships.

With pre-season set to get underway, it has now been reported that Ten Hag will work with his team to create a powerful side in a 4-3-3 formation to play from 2024/25 onwards.

This is according to Mirror Football, which explains that he has told likely new incoming Matthijs de Ligt that he will play alongside Lisandro Martínez as the centre-backs in a 4-3-3. He is said to have called De Ligt to tell him that “he is seen as a new defensive rock to build the side around.”

The 4-3-3 formation would create new roles for a few players. André Onana will start in goal, as he was during 2023/24, and the full-backs, assuming full fitness, would be Dalot on the right and Luke Shaw on the left.

With the two centre-backs having been mentioned, it is almost certain that a new defensive midfielder will play in front of them. Casemiro and McTominay are free to leave for the right price, and the Old Trafford club have been heavily linked with Amadou Onana and Manual Ugarte in that position.

The other two midfielders pick themselves. First will be the brilliant Kobbie Mainoo, who has been shining with England at Euro 2024 after his debut season at the club. Captain Bruno Fernandes will continue to be an important cog.

This is purely speculative, but the pair may be used as two No. 8s in midfield. Both would have the right to push up the field when needed but equally help out in the middle and defensive thirds when needed, sharing the workload.

The selection then gets interesting in attack. Alejandro Garnacho is the firm favourite to start at left wing, but should Marcus Rashford return to form, that spot will be hard to nail down. Although Rasmus Højlund is the club’s only striker, they are looking to sign a new name in the position, with Joshua Zirkzee the name most strongly linked.

Should Zirkzee join, the pair would have to battle it out for superiority in the role. Finally, it has been reported that Amad Diallo will be considered a vital first-team player from now on and is the current favourite to occupy the right wing following two poor seasons from Brazilian winger Antony.

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