Ruben Amorim chops and changes Man United’s defence too much | OneFootball

“A good attack wins you games – but a good defence wins you leagues.”

That was former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s assessment of the importance a rock-solid backline holds for a team’s chances of success. And it’s a lesson which the current man at the helm at Old Trafford must heed to salvage a season which feels on the verge of sinking.

Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system either employs a three or five-man defence, depending on the opposition, the players selected, or how much you like him – with accusations of ‘five-at-the-back’ a common criticism his detractors enjoy throwing at the Portuguese coach.

But the connection between the wing-backs and the three central defenders is undeniable, regardless of how high they are stationed up the pitch. This means the same type of symbiotic relationship which defines the success of a back four also applies for the Red Devils, be it three or five.

Consistency is king in defence, as legendary United centre-back Gary Pallister told The Peoples Person in an exclusive interview, with the same line-up each week allowing those players the chance to build an almost telepathic understanding with one another.

And that’s why Amorim’s decision to constantly change his backline – either match to match, or in-game – is proving so detrimental, with United’s defensive statistics ranking among the Premier League’s worst, outside of relegation candidates.

Constant Changing of the Guard

United have played fifteen times this season, including cup competitions. Amorim has used nine different defensive units across these games.

The only time he has named the same back five was against Nottingham Forest – a 2-2 draw at the City Ground – after the 4-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion the game before.

Predictably, United have conceded 23 goals in a campaign which sees them 8th in the league table, closer to the relegation zone than first, and having already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two Grimsby Town. No other side has conceded more in the top half.

Based on xG (expected goals), Amorim’s side should be fourth. This suggests there have been improvements, despite the growing criticism against the Portuguese, but that the decision to spend over £200 million on a new attacking trident – Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko – is yet to pay dividends.

Poor finishing is something a manager can only do so much about, particularly given the focus the club placed on securing upgrades up front. Defensively it is a different story, however.

Only six sides have fared worse in terms of xGA (expected goals against) than United – Burnley, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Everton and Brighton.

A system which employees three central defenders should, by definition, be more defensively sound. Yet the Red Devils have a fragility which defies the logic of the way they set up on the pitch.

And Pallister, who formed the bedrock of one the most successful sides in the history of the club alongside Steve Bruce, is adamant it’s the constant changing of the defence which is to explain.

A Settled Back Five

“You’ve got to get a settled back four or back five. Get the right people behind you as well, give yourself a platform to be tight, to make it difficult for teams to score against you. But right now, teams are finding it quite easy,” Pallister told us in September.

Yet, nearly three months on, the analysis holds as true now as it did then.

“We offer up a lot of chances in games. I’d like to see a settled system at the back. The same players. Every game he seems to change the centre halves as well, I don’t understand, even when we’ve done well he’s changed the centre halves,” the ex-defender presciently stated.

“I don’t understand the theory behind that, because part of myself and Steve and Rio and Vidic and partnerships that have played at the back, the more games you play alongside each other, the more understanding you get. You know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It becomes more of a second nature.

“But if it’s changing week in, week out, the dynamics change, the trust maybe isn’t there.”

One of the most unusual tactical approaches Amorim takes, in a long line of them, is how often he substitutes his central defenders; a choice few other managers make willingly, if ever.

There is some logic. Amorim’s system requires greater levels of exertion from his back three, particularly his outside centre-backs, who are instructed to constantly push up into midfield to stop transitions, but then sprint back into place if the ball is not recovered.

The former Sporting manager’s system is complex – and this is truest in defence. The expectations and demands on the centre-halves and the wing-backs are not ones these players will have faced in their careers before.

To be overloaded with this barrage of information, while also having to contend with a different support network around you virtually every game, or even within the same half, explains United’s defensive difficulties over the past twelve months – and why the team has improved going forward this season, but still struggles in the opposite direction.

Amorim must settled on a settled defence and stick to this unit moving forward – or risk a leaky backline capsizing his ship.

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social