Manchester United's Struggles Under Amorim: An Analysis
Manchester United's disappointing defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup earlier this week marks another setback for the club under coach Ruben Amorim.
Since Amorim took charge, United has struggled to translate his tactical approach into successful performances on the pitch. Despite investing £200 million in new signings this summer and offloading several players deemed surplus to requirements, the team faces the pressing challenge of improving upon last season's disappointing 15th-place finish.
This analysis delves into Amorim's tactical system and examines the reasons for its lack of success thus far, highlighting both on-ball and off-ball issues that opponents typically exploit.
Understanding Amorim's Tactical Philosophy
Amorim employs a positional 5-2-3 formation that requires players to adhere to strict zones. The wing-backs maintain width, while the central midfielders remain central. This rigidity results in minimal player rotations.
His strategy is centered around creating numerical overloads across the pitch, particularly in wide areas, to gain an advantage over opponents. The theory is that having an extra player in certain zones facilitates progression into dangerous areas.
Challenges Against Grimsby's Man-to-Man Press
Grimsby effectively countered United's numerical advantages with a man-to-man marking strategy. In such scenarios, both teams have an equal number of players in each area, necessitating a Plan B for United.
To break free from man-to-man marking, teams typically require skilled dribblers who can evade their markers. This was evident in United's first goal against Grimsby, where Kobbie Mainoo's ability to beat his marker and advance the ball created space for Bryan Mbeumo to score.
Another tactic to overcome a man-to-man press involves players roaming across the pitch to draw their markers into unfavorable positions, allowing for quick passes around them. However, Amorim's system does not often accommodate this flexibility, as the rigid positional play restricts player movement and makes it easier for opponents to apply pressure predictably.
Amorim's Predictable Passing Patterns
The analysis reveals that Amorim favors a positional style that relies on structured passing routines rather than individual skill to overcome opponents.
United typically builds play with three defenders who aim to deliver direct passes to attackers. These attackers then lay the ball off to a central midfielder, who seeks to deliver a through ball. This sequence, known in coaching terms as 'up-back-through', is designed to lure opposition center-backs out of position, creating space for runs behind the defense.
While captain Bruno Fernandes has faced criticism for opting for long passes instead of holding the ball, this approach likely stems from Amorim's instructions to free up players making runs behind defenders.
Exploiting United's Passing Routines
Observations of United's attacking play reveal a frequent reliance on their passing routines down the flanks. Opponents can disrupt this by adopting a back five formation, which mirrors United's attacking setup, thereby neutralizing their numerical advantages.
When facing a back five with man-to-man pressure, United's effectiveness diminishes, especially in situations where they are outnumbered, resulting in less favorable attacking scenarios.
Grimsby, aware of United's tendency to focus on wide play, angled their press to limit United's ability to execute their passing routines effectively.
Defensive Structure of United
To understand Amorim's approach, it is crucial to assess United's defensive strategy during prolonged spells without possession. Although they occasionally adopt a 5-4-1 formation, United primarily plays in a 5-2-3 shape, aiming to press high up the pitch to regain possession. If this initial pressure fails, they compact their formation before retreating into their own defensive third.
Rather than employing a man-to-man defensive strategy, United often relies on an extra player in their defensive line, which can leave gaps elsewhere, particularly in midfield.
United's pressing is triggered by certain cues, where wide central defenders follow opponents into midfield when the ball is on their side, while attackers drop deep to support the press.
Bypassing United's Press
United's 5-2-3 formation, when in the opposition's half, can be exploited through clever movements that aim to overload United's front three. This strategy allows opponents to create numerical advantages deeper in the defensive setup.