Manchester United’s best starting XI could solve some of the issues Ruben Amorim is facing at Old Trafford but at least one key player must miss out.
Manchester United have made their worst Premier League start since the 1992/93 campaign, taking only four points from their first four matches.
Losses to Manchester City and Arsenal, a draw with Fulham, and a lone victory over Burnley have highlighted their struggles, while a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town has added to the pressure.
Ruben Amorim’s unyielding approach and questionable selections continue to face criticism, and United’s next challenge sees them welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford.
With the United boss making it clear that he will not change his way of playing, UtdDistrict look at how his best XI could help solve three issues in the existing system.
United’s best XI can solve three issues for Amorim
United’s midfield is the biggest problem at the moment, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte being unable to deal with the demands in Amorim’s engine room.
Fernandes is United’s best player but has been unable to follow his runners in deeper areas and that has resulted in multiple goals.
For Amorim, it would be best to return to a more natural midfield pivot with Casemiro partnering Kobbie Mainoo. They would help United become slightly more compact in the middle while also having two players who are capable on the ball.
In turn, this also allows Fernandes to operate in his preferred zone as one of the two no.10s in Amorim’s system. With the team still struggling to score goals, you need Fernandes closer to the goal.
Risky move and key player misses out
Amorim uses wingbacks in his system and often refers to them as wingers. That is because they are tasked with a lot of attacking responsibility.
Patrick Dorgu is found in space on the left flank constantly but the young Dane has an inconsistent cross which means that he can’t make the most of a lot of dangerous opportunities.
There aren’t many options for that wingback role and the likes of Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot are also limited in the final third.
Luke Shaw is perhaps the only real option who can provide genuine quality in those areas, and while there would be concerns over his ability to get up and down the pitch, it may be worth the risk due to the importance of having a good crosser in those zones.
Leny Yoro could swap sides to replace Shaw in the backline while Mazraoui comes in as the right-sided centre-back.
The following team could help solve those issues in Amorim’s tactics, but having Fernandes further forward would likely mean that Benjamin Šeško wouldn’t be starting regularly, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo playing alongside the club captain in the frontline.
Full XI: Lammens; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro; Amad, Casemiro, Mainoo, Shaw; Bruno, Cunha, Mbeumo
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