How Man United could line up if Allegri were in charge | OneFootball

Following reports that Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri as a potential successor for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, here is a look at how the Red Devils could hypothetically line up if the Italian were in charge.

A possible Man United back three

For the vast majority of his time in Serie A with the Bianconeri, Allegri favoured a back-three system, propped up for the best part of a decade by the legendary back line of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.

Juventus were still defending in a three during Allegri’s last season in charge, albeit in the form of Danilo, Gleison Bremer, Federico Gatti and Alex Sandro.

United have plenty of centre-backs at their current disposal, including a former Bianconeri defender in Matthijs De Ligt, although he has not always had the best track record under Allegri.

Still, assuming that everybody is fit, United have a long list of defenders who could line up in a back three, including De Ligt, Noussair Mazraouri, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Johnny Evans. Left-back Luke Shaw has also played in a back three before, like Alex Sandro did towards the end of his time with Juve.

United in a 3-5-2

The midfield becomes interesting. By the end of his time with Juventus, Allegri most commonly used a three man midfield, although he did occasionally opt for a 3-4-3 or rather a 3-4-2-1.

A three-man system would likely still see Bruno Fernandes star as the forward-most of the midfielders. Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are the most likely candidates for the double pivot behind him.

Assuming that Allegri were to opt for a 3-5-2 at Old Trafford, It would not be unsurprising to see Marcus Rashford and either Joshua Zirkzee or Rasmus Hojlund start up front in tandem.

United in a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3

If Allegri chose a 3-4-2-1 in his hypothetical situation, the holding midfielders would remain the same, and Bruno Fernandes would also stay up in a trequartista role. He would then be joined by another player in the form of either Alejandro Garnacho, Mason Mount or possibly Amad Diallo. Marcus Rashford could also play in that role, but could also be used as the centre-forward, as he has done on numerous occasions previously.

The other option would be to go for a 3-4-3 with more recognisable wingers, likely Rashford and Garnacho, with a more traditional centre-forward like Rasmus Hojlund in at no.9.

How Man United could line up under Allegri

(3-5-2): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Bruno F., Shaw; Zirkzee, Rashford.

(3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Shaw; Garnacho, Bruno F.; Rashford.

(3-4-3): Onana; Mazraouri, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Shaw; Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford.