Xavi Hernandez is being linked with the Manchester United job if the club decide to sack Ruben Amorim but he would face a huge issue if he made the mid-season move.
Manchester United have picked up only two wins from their opening seven fixtures across all competitions, those coming against Chelsea and Burnley.
On both occasions, Ruben Amorim’s men needed major slices of fortune; an early dismissal in one match and a last-gasp penalty in the other.
After a miserable season last year, United were in desperate need of a positive start, but they’ve stumbled once again.
Their latest blow came in a 3-1 loss to Brentford, a result that has further increased the scrutiny on Amorim and led to reports about potential replacements, including Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi Hernandez’s tactical claim amid United job rumours
Xavi, 45, won La Liga with Barcelona as manager following on from his incredible playing career but is currently out of work. It has been claimed that he would immediately join United if given the chance.
Speaking previously, the Spanish legend has explained how his tactical ideas are not wedded to one formation like Amorim, but that he wants wingers to hold the width and attack in his set-up.
“My style is 4-3-3, but we can adapt the attack to 3-4-3. We can use 4-2-3-1, it depends on what players you have,” he explained.
“But I use wingers and not full-backs to attack. When you have full-backs, the opponent can dominate the game. That’s just my opinion.”
Xavi would need to adapt
The problem is that United do not have many profiles that would suit Xavi’s style on the flanks. On the right side, it would be fine, with both Amad and Bryan Mbeumo comfortable attacking from the touchline.
But on the left, the only real option is Matheus Cunha, who much prefers drifting inside and driving with the ball centrally. He does not shine out on the touchline.
United sold Alejandro Garnacho and loaned out Marcus Rashford in the summer. They were the club’s only two true left wingers in the first-team squad, and there aren’t many options in that position within the Academy setup.
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With the limited amount of options and Xavi’s clear willingness to join, it could be the most realistic managerial move if Amorim is sacked in the end.
However, the Spanish manager would need to show his adaption skills immediately, with no natural options on that left side to do what he wants. It would be interesting to see how he would approach the issue.
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