Silvestre picks surprise five players he believes have Man Utd future

Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre is anticipating a huge summer at Old Trafford but for the meantime, he's unconvinced by Ruben Amorim's refusal to switch systems.

Ruben Amorim must show flexibility to succeed at Manchester United - because his current system is evidently not working. That's the verdict of ex-United defender Mikael Silvestre, who believes the Portuguese boss must adapt his boom-or-bust approach to get the Red Devils firing again.

Amorim has already said on record that he won't change his footballing idea but Silvestre is adamant top managers should SUMMARYbe able to call upon a Plan B.

"If we talk about the best managers or the top managers, they are able to switch from a back three to a back four or they change the formation completely," Silvestre told bettingexpert.com.

"In modern football, you need to be flexible, you need to be able to adapt to injuries and sometimes you have to adapt to an opponent that is superior to you."

Silvestre played under Sir Alex Ferguson during his nine-year stint at Old Trafford and believes Amorim needs to take a leaf out of his former boss' book amid United's struggles with a back three.

Ferguson was renowned for tweaking his tactics—shifting between a 4-4-2, 4-3-3, or even a 4-5-1—depending on the opposition or squad availability, a flexibility that won him 13 Premier League titles. Now Amorim is hopeful an influx of new recruits that are tailor-made for his 3-4-3 formation can improve the club's fortunes but problematically, cash is of the essence due to United's crippling debt.

With the team languishing in 15th place and facing financial constraints under Financial Fair Play, Amorim’s rigid adherence to his system has drawn criticism, especially as United have won just two of their last 10 matches across all competitions.

Despite their struggles under Amorim, Silvestre believes there are five players currently in the squad who could play a huge role in the future - Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee.

Onana’s shot-stopping ability, despite occasional errors, offers a foundation in goal, while Dalot’s versatility suits multiple systems. De Ligt’s experience could anchor the defense, Mainoo’s dynamism drives the midfield, and Zirkzee’s recent shift to a deeper role hints at untapped potential.

"It's a big job at United for Amorim in the summer," Silvestre continued. "I think all of the guys I mentioned can be part of things moving forward, they can be part of the rebuild." However, Silvestre’s call for adaptability raises questions about whether Amorim’s stubbornness could hinder United’s recovery, especially if the summer transfer window fails to deliver the specialists he needs.