After a treacherous championship campaign in 23/24, Ten Hag won the FA Cup v Manchester City deploying an excellent tactical plan to stifle City’s central space.

It showed that they could beat one of the best teams in the world using a possession-based attack.

It is tempting to wonder if, if this victory had not taken place, Ruben Amorim was reportedly among the candidates United’s new owners INEOS spoke to in the summer and secured agreement ahead of the season.

Instead, Ten Hag benefited from a significant investment in the transfer market and a chance to prove that previous poor results were due to the considerable injuries suffered by United – something he has mentioned on several occasions in the media.

But the problems had been clear for some time.

Too easily manipulated by changes in opposing managers, oceans of space in midfield and a constant change of tactics, which prevents United from honing a particular style.

Nine games into the season, it was becoming abundantly clear that Ten Hag had failed to address these issues and, unlike how quickly he was fired, current ownership has not hesitated to find his replacement.

The current Sports CP manager who had already been courted by Western Ham, Liverpool And Manchester City looks set to head to Old Trafford.

What is Rúben Amorim’s playing style?

Almost religiously, Sporting Amorim played a 3-4-3 system, with three central defenders in full preparation, two high and wide full-backs, two central midfielders and above all two attackers between a solitary attacker who tends to stay . inside.

The full-backs are essential to the attack.

When the ball is played next to one of them, the opposing defender is removed to press, and in this case an attacker (Araujo) on the same side can make a run down the wing taking a defender with him central, thus opening the ground. a gap between the two central defenders in defense.

This is a pattern of play seen time and time again under Amorim, resulting in many goals being scored from cutbacks or crosses.

The aim is to use the half space created by a combination of forward and full back, as the attacker drops deep this time to connect he drags a player with him so the full back can make a pass in the half-space. space in which a midfielder can rush to receive and cross.

A full-back has to come out towards the Sporting full-back and a midfielder or defender is drawn towards the winger on the same side nearby.

As two players are dragged to one side, an advanced eight-man midfielder can latch onto the pass and cross where the area is flooded by a striker, winger and full-back.

Amorim teams are used to having a lot of possession in the opposition’s half, with the three central defenders pushed high up waiting for the right moment to increase the speed of a move as players interchange as They are getting closer to the goal.

When teams put pressure on Sporting in the build-up, the Portuguese champions used this to their advantage.

One of the two attackers either side of the central attacker can drop deeper and receive from the defense, dragging a player with them.

There remains an extra player next to the two midfielders to receive and watch how far the pitch goes. Trincão dragged Tochi Chukwuanicreating the gap behind.

As two defenders prepare to neutralize an attacker Viktor Gyökeresit can be used in preparation to free up a full-back.

Again, the main objective is to create gaps in the opponent’s defense and get the player on the sidelines to pass players in the box.

How does this fit in with United’s current squad?

Although United’s current squad has a number of centre-backs, many of these players have never played for United in a three-at-the-back system.

Leny Yoro And Matthijs de Ligt were signed this summer and could line up alongside Lisandro Martinez.

But with Yoro injured and having played no minutes in the Premier League, it means another United centre-back has a chance to step up and cement his place in the starting XI, whether Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf or even Johnny Evans.

With the matches set to be intense and fast-paced, each central defender will likely have the opportunity to prove themselves and, with Luke Shaw Coming back from injury, the Englishman could also compete in the same position as he filled the role under Ten Hag when needed.

It is likely though that he will be needed at full-back, as this is a crucial role in making Amorim’s attacks lethal, providing width and drawing players in to create space .

Diogo Dalot And Noussair Mazraoui are certainly first-choice full-backs, but it may be alarming from United’s perspective that the Red Devils are a little scarce in that department.

With Shaw and Tyrell Malacia always sidelined, Lindelof and Martinez can replace him when needed (as we saw in the 5-2 victory on Leicester) if Amorim wants to use his preferred 3-4-3 system.

At Sporting, Amorim has signed many young players and will likely look to United’s thriving academy department, as many United managers have done in the past.

With wounds in the back, Harry Amass is a player highly tipped to earn more minutes in the first team as he has shone in pre-season with Shaw and Ten Hag mentioning the player’s potential.

Another selection conundrum that Amorim will face is that if he has to play with five at the back, a striker would miss his chance.

With Bruno Fernandes likely to start alongside a central striker as the team’s pivot, there will be huge competition for places as United have a plethora of attacking talent, particularly wide wingers and one of the Alexandre Garnacho, Amad Diallo Or Marcus Rashford could miss out on a starting spot.

To compensate, we could see Fernandes deployed deeper in midfield, to make late runs into the box allowing Amorim to play two wingers alongside a striker.

Likewise, the Portuguese coach could use Rashford in attack in the role where he scored the most goals of his career in 22/23.

While it’s good to have depth up front, Amorim will need to make sure he doesn’t get disgruntled and that each player gets enough minutes to make a difference.

Ten Hag failed at United because he changed his game plan too often. Amorim, United will have a manager who has relied rigidly on a system that has allowed him to succeed.

The Premier League is a completely different beast to the Liga Portugal, however: teams often discover an opponent’s weakness and exploit it.

Amorim may have a good team to work with, but he needs to find a balance between adapting his tactics when necessary and adopting a recognizable style of play.

The United job is a poisoned chalice with intense scrutiny and unforgiving pressure. Ten Hag’s appointment was also greeted with optimism before turning into yet another post-Sir Alex Ferguson failure.

It remains to be seen whether Amorim is finally the candidate to return United to their glorious heights. For now, his credentials, charisma and success at Sporting prove he deserves this opportunity.

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