Rúben Amorim can solve Manchester United’s attacking headache with one wing-back change

There is a tactical change that Rúben Amorim must make with his Manchester United wing-backs to solve a major attacking headache at the club.

The Boxing Day football brought yet another sucker punch to Manchester United, being beaten 2-0 by one of the worst teams in the league in Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Unlike the Bournemouth game, where United actually had a number of attempts on goal, they offered next to no attacking threat whatsoever in the Black Country.

Rasmus Højlund was seen expressing his frustrations to teammates on a number of occasions at not receiving the ball, and it summed up how blunt United were in attack.

In the early days of the Amorim era, Amad Diallo was lining up at right wing-back with a conventional full-back on the opposite side. This asymmetry in United’s setup made United a more threatening attacking outfit, with Amad offering a threat in the wide areas.

In recent games, Amad has moved inside the pitch in the right No. 10 position, and United have been lining up with two conventional full-backs at wing-back. This has, however, blunted United offensively, with little to no threat coming from out wide.

Of United’s full-backs, the only true attacking specialist is the injured Luke Shaw. Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot have their qualities but their best strengths in possession lie in other areas – Mazraoui has thrived as part of the back three.

Tyrell Malacia is taking baby steps back into football after not playing a game for around a year and a half, and attacking play has never been his speciality anyway.

When United don’t operate with at least one winger in the wing back positions, the attack becomes overly reliant on the front three, who have their own issues right now – exacerbated by the lack of support from elsewhere across the pitch.

Whilst it may make the front three weaker on paper, Amad starting as a wing back makes the attack as a whole stronger. Alejandro Garnacho starting on either side is also an option. Antony has featured at wing back a few times so far for Amorim too although ideally he will be sold.

Unless United’s defence is fully fit and Luke Shaw can operate on the left, United must have at least one winger lining up as one of the ‘wing-backs’ in Amorim’s side otherwise the attack will continue to suffer.

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