Manchester United return to Premier League action this weekend with a fierce clash against their rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
After what has felt like a long international break, Manchester United are finally back in action this weekend and Ruben Amorim’s side have a great opportunity coming up.
Manchester City have started the season slowly and Pep Guardiola’s side have clear issues which the Reds will be looking to tale advantage of.
In this fixture last term, United won 2-1 after Amad inspired a late comeback. Amorim will be hoping for a similar result on Sunday afternoon.
When you consider how best to take advantage of this City side, Amorim could decide to make an unusual lineup decision to copy a tactic which Ole Gunnar Solskjær would use against United’s rivals.
Amorim can use “aggressive” star to copy Solskjær tactic vs City
Despite Guardiola’s side being so threatening for so many teams in the Premier League over recent years, United have almost always been able to cause them troubles.
Solskjær had a favourable record against the ex-Barcelona boss and that was partly due to how he operated with his frontline. Anthony Martial was crucial in those games, especially the 2-0 win away from home in March 2021, dropping deeper and creating space in behind the defenders.
Erik ten Hag used similar tactics, with Bruno Fernandes playing as the false-nine in the 2024 FA Cup final victory against City.
United have dangerous players in those no.10 positions, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo perfect players to take advantage of City in transitions.
But the player in front of them might not be Benjamin Šeško, and instead Joshua Zirkzee could get a chance to start as his profile could take advantage of City’s weaknesses.
Zirkzee can take advantage of City’s weaknesses
Guardiola’s side have always been vulnerable in these transitional moments but it is even more significant than beforehand. Their centre-backs are not as impressive as they once were either.
Bringing Zirkzee into the team and allowing him to roam deeper could help United in overloading central areas while also creating space for the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha to thrive.
Amorim said that Zirkzee is getting more ‘aggressive’ before his injury at the end of last season and that could also prove useful at the Etihad.
Of course, there would be some question marks about Šeško if this were to happen, with him being the new big-money signing, but Zirkzee might be the better tactical fit to take advantage of City’s weaknesses.
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