Tactics Corner
Here Man United Daily will do deep dives into Manchester United's tactics as they approach games and look back at how their formations worked in previous matches.
This is also a chance to look wider at trending tactics more widely in the game which are bringing success or have done so in the past. Feel free to contribute by getting in touch with your own ideas and if you would like a discussion. Maybe you are a fan Rinus Michel's Ajax, Arrigo Sacchi's Milan or want to say how Fergie's approach could help Man Utd now.
We are lucky to have resident tactics maestro Tim Hanlon, a qualified sporting director with the Spanish football federation, to offer his thoughts and views.
Ruben Amorim has implemented a modern, flexible tactical approach at Manchester United, drawing on his successes at Sporting CP but adapting to the Premier League’s demands and United’s squad. Here’s a breakdown of his tactical principles and how they play out on the pitch.
Amorim’s primary formation is a 3-4-3 or a variant like 3-4-2-1, which can morph into a 1-4-2-3-1 during build-up phases.
He adapts the system based on the opponent’s setup. For example, if facing a back four, he might use wing-backs more aggressively; if the opponent defends with five, he adjusts to find space elsewhere.
United often build from the back, with the goalkeeper (Onana) pushing up between the centre-backs to create a numerical advantage and stretch the opposition press. The central centre-back may step into midfield, while wing-backs push up wide.
Amorim’s teams look to find an attacking midfielder in the space between the opposition’s lines, who can quickly bounce the ball to a holding midfielder to progress forward. If pressed man-to-man, United may go direct, seeking 1v1s for attackers like Højlund.
In essence, Amorim’s United are defined by tactical flexibility, aggressive pressing, rapid transitions, and a willingness to adapt in-game-all underpinned by a clear identity and modern use of wing-backs and midfield overloads.
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