Andre Onana sends strong message to Ruben Amorim ahead of Manchester United arrival
Today at 12:45 PM
Ruben Amorim thoroughly excited Manchester United fans ahead of his arrival at Old Trafford thanks to a thumping win with Sporting CP over Manchester City.
Amorim was named the new Man Utd manager recently, replacing Erik ten Hag after the club endured their worst-ever start to a Premier League season – taking just 12 points from the first 10 games of 2024/25.
The Portuguese manager is set to take charge at Old Trafford on November 11, seeing out the final few games prior to the upcoming international break with current club Sporting CP.
One of said games happened to be against Man Utd’s arch-rivals Man City this week, with Amorim giving fans a glimpse of the style of football they can expect their new manager to implement.
Sporting secured a shock 4-1 win over City at the Estadio Jose Alvalade by playing a thrilling brand of attacking football, and thanks in large part to a hat-trick from Arsenal and Chelsea target Viktor Gyokeres.
Andre Onana insists Man Utd squad can play Ruben Amorim’s tactical system
Speaking ahead of Manchester United’s UEFA Europa League clash with PAOK on Thursday evening, goalkeeper Andre Onana admitted he watched Sporting’s win over Man City to get a better understanding of Amorim’s tactics.
And despite the dynamic and pacey set-up being a far cry from the labouring style of play United fans witnessed under Ten Hag in recent months, Onana was keen to insist that the squad was up to the task of playing in a new system:
“I did watch it,” said Onana. “It was a great victory for them, by the way. Different system, but my teammates were all pragmatic.
“Everyone here is capable of playing in each system, I don’t think it will be an issue for us. We have big players, and they will step up.”
How Man Utd could line-up under Ruben Amorim
Amorim has adopted a 3-4-3 system successfully throughout his four-and-a-half years in charge at Sporting CP – winning two Liga Portugal and two Taca da Liga titles during that period.
One can expect the Portuguese manager to implement a similar system, with three centre-backs, two wing-backs and two number tens flanking a centre forward at Man Utd too.
This system will be a tough change for United, and they’ll have to adapt quickly given recent results under the managerial predecessor.
Defensively, the Red Devils squad may actually suit this set-up a lot better than Ten Hag’s back four. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and youngster Leny Yoro all have the attributes to play in a back three, while Diogo Dalot’s offensive prowess in particular would be utilised well in a wing-back role.
In midfield, Amorim will have a familiar face in Manuel Ugarte – who played two seasons under the manager at Sporting – to call upon too.
However, things are perhaps less clear in the final third. The lack of out-and-out wingers in the manager’s system could mean Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford see less game time, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount potentially being preferred.
The pair would be expected to flank young forward Rasmus Hojlund, who has many of the same characteristics as Gyokeres – Sporting’s top goalscorer this season.
