In the pre-match press conference ahead of United’s rescheduled clash away at Palace on Sunday, Amorim responded to claims regarding comparisons between his system and Glasner’s.
Throughout his tenure as Manchester United boss, Ruben Amorim has received constant questioning and criticism of the system he chooses to employ, with many fans and journalists really not taking to his 3 at the back formation and his ‘reluctance to change’.
With United slumping to their worst Premier League position ever last season, many people have understandably pointed the blame at Amorim and his system for the Reds’ horrendous form over the last year.
The success of Oliver Glasner’s system at Crystal Palace last season, which also adopted a three-at-the-back, saw them lift the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the final, doesn’t necessarily help Amorim’s case.
Many fans have drawn comparisons between the two teams, which have led to questions about why United’s three-back is often not as effective as Palace’s, a point Amorim has chosen to clap back at in Friday’s press conference.
Amorims quotes
Speaking during his Friday afternoon press conference ahead of the tie, it was mentioned to Amorim that both United and Palace play similar football, since both teams have adopted a 3-4-3 formation.
However, Amorim took offence to the notion, saying: “We play in a different way, and you can understand that by data. Right now, it’s hard to explain everything, but like you said, they are a different club and they are doing things better than us, so that is quite simple.”
Amorim went on to further elaborate by explaining: “You don’t say that all [teams who play in a] 4-3-3 play in the same way, right? We play in a different moment, we defend in a different space, we try to attack in a different way. They are just doing the things better than us.”
Amorim went further into detail regarding differences between the two teams, saying United’s squad still does lack certain ‘characteristics’, using United’s Monday night defeat to 10 10-man Everton as an example, saying:
“To give an example, the last game [against Everton] we should have an Amad with a right foot to put on the other side to play against 10 men.
“It’s these kind of characteristics that, in the meantime, we’ll try to get to, to be a better team. Are we the perfect set-up to play in this way?
“Not yet, but like any other team we need time to put the right characteristics in every single position to be prepared for it.”
How United could set up against Everton
With the players and fans alike already knowing what system Ruben Amorim will set up away at Selhurst on Sunday, it will be interesting to see what lineup the manager will put out following the painful defeat on Monday.
With Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško still ruled out for the trip, Amorim will have to further adapt his forward line again in the meantime to maintain United’s threat going forward.
However, how he will set up at wing back is arguably more important, as United really seemed to lack an attacking threat with Mazraoui not carrying much threat when going forward.
Read More: Rúben Amorim issues Matheus Cunha injury update as three players ruled out vs Crystal Palace
Amorim should look to go with Amad back at wingback on Sunday, as he is better suited to taking advantage of the extra width in attack Amorim’s system provides, with his blistering pace and ability to beat his man and successfully get a shot or a pass off, something United constantly failed to do in their defeat against the Toffees.
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