Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott believes Rúben Amorim is breaking an unwritten tactical rule at Manchester United despite a 2-1 win against Chelsea.
Manchester United secured their second Premier League victory of the season with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford, as Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro found the net in a rain-soaked Manchester evening.
United made a lively start and were gifted a huge advantage just five minutes in when Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was shown a red card for clattering Bryan Mbeumo as he raced through on goal.
Ten minutes later, Fernandes calmly struck home to mark his 100th goal for the club, before Casemiro powered in a header to double the lead. The Brazilian’s night turned sour, however, as he was sent off shortly before half-time, reducing both sides to ten men.
United reorganised for the second half, with Benjamin Šeško sacrificed for Manuel Ugarte, and as the game continued, Chelsea struggled to create clear openings until the final stages. Trevoh Chalobah eventually rose highest to head in a Reece James cross, sparking a late surge from the visitors.
Despite Chelsea throwing everything forward, United dug deep, defended resiliently, and saw out the match to clinch three vital points in front of an appreciative home crowd.
Amorim is breaking unwritten Premier League rule
So far this season, it has been a notable feature that Amorim has often substituted on centre-backs in his Premier League fixtures, most notably Harry Maguire coming on from the bench.
However, against Chelsea, the England defender was handed his first Premier League start of the season, but was then replaced by Leny Yoro with 20 minutes left to play.
For Chalobah’s goal, it was noted after the tie that it could have been avoided if Maguire had still been on the field, who would no doubt have been the man to challenge the Chelsea defender’s headed finish.
Speaking on YouTube channel It’s Called Soccer!, former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott explained how substituting centre-backs used to be a complete no-go in the Premier League, and that Amorim’s decision to do so continually is too dangerous.
“You change the personnel all the time,” said Walcott. “The centre-halves… my centre-halves at Arsenal never got changed. Or at Arsenal now, centre-halves do not get changed. Do not change your back four.
“Wingers get changed, which is annoying. I always used to get subbed and thought, ‘Okay, I’ve done my job.’ It was generally the pattern. [But] centre-halves? Don’t change that. It’s too dangerous for me.”
Amorim’s changes may be due to game-states
Amorim has changed at least one of his three centre-backs in all six of United’s fixtures so far this season, with Matthijs de Ligt the only defender to have played every Premier League minute this season.
However, with Maguire often coming on with the side either drawing or losing, what Walcott is not considering is that Amorim also wants the English defender on the field for his presence in both boxes.
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It was on display against Chelsea when Maguire started, as the defender won his only aerial duel during his 70 minutes, and was also the assister for Fernandes’ strike, winning his header in Chelsea’s area.
If United can become a more stable team and more comfortable at the back, it is likely that Amorim will not always look to change his centre-backs.
But, for now, in game states where United need to fight to come back from behind, Amorim’s decision to increase aerial threat helps explain the continued pattern.
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