Ruben Amorim reveals his thoughts on changing his flawed system | OneFootball

Manchester United have suffered under Ruben Amorim, with plenty pointing to his adherence to a 3-4-3 system as one of the primary reasons.

In fact, the Portuguese has kept harping that whatever happens, he will not change but during the embargoed section of the pre-match press conference ahead of the Chelsea clash, the head coach finally revealed that his system will evolve over time.

When asked whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe had asked him to consider tweaking, Amorim said, “No, no, no. Not even the Pope or someone, it will not, this is my job and my responsibility, my life.

“I will not change that but I will change the system, there will be an evolution, but we need to make all the good steps. If I am a player and I have a coach who has a lot of pressure, it doesn’t matter if they are all around the world, they are saying you need to change the system and in this moment, they will look at me in a different way.

System change

“Everything, when you think about the impact a decision is going to have in the team, everything is important. I will say the same thing, this will have an evolution and I am doing things my way and some guys do things in another way, but it will change. I hope I will have the time to change, it will change.”

Among the concerns raised by pundits is the lack of balance in midfield, especially with Bruno Fernandes forced to play in a more deeper role, from where he does not pose the same level of danger.

But Amorim explained what he wants from his skipper, while claiming that his compatriot still has the freedom to get in and around the box.

“If you remember, Bruno, he wants all the freedom in the world. Even when he played a ten role, he is getting the ball back. Maybe he is not getting the same freedom to get inside the box, but he is getting there and he is getting near the box, he can do his shots.

“It is a position where I want Bruno more deep to have more possession and to try and control more of the game. We are doing that, but sometimes we are missing a little bit of Bruno in front, maybe because Cunha is not there and maybe so it is because we want an extra player [there].

On Bruno Fernandes

“I am trying to balance the team and imagine the game. I want to put the best starting XI there and I see Bruno is frustrated only because we are not winning games. Sometimes he likes to go further but he has an important job to do. The important thing to do is the team playing well. If the team is playing well and winning football games, then he can play in different positions.”

Obviously, the lack of goals remains an issue, despite the club spending big money to bring in Benjamin Sesko, while ruthlessly casting aside Rasmus Hojlund.

The Slovenian also looked isolated in the Manchester derby, while he had failed to start in the previous three Premier League games.

“I think if we remember Arsenal, I think we missed a lot. Burnley, Fulham, in the beginning, we missed a lot and that’s four games. Then there is the thing you say, ‘it is not a big opportunity’.

On Sesko

“Amad has a ball between the lines and it is 4v3, we then put the ball out and that is not a big opportunity – but it should be! All these things. And if you ask me again, at City, Sesko looks like he is alone in the box – I agree.

“He was always alone and the guys were around the box, but in the final third we get there and I also think at the end of the game when I look at the box, Ben was alone, we cannot score in that way. It is not the same team in that department compared to last year.

“Sesko is taking it all in. It is a different club and he is a professional and a perfectionist. You can feel that and he wants everything for tomorrow and we have to balance that. You feel he can do the job, we can talk all things, system, if one ball goes in the box and we win one game, then two, this will change.

“The important thing is last year I said it was clear, we cannot play well, we cannot create chances. This year it is different and we can avoid all the goals we are suffering, yes. Let’s work on that and next week, next week.”

Goalkeeper plans

The other issue often spoken about is the goalkeeping department, with Andre Onana kicked out, while despite Senne Lammens’ arrival, Altay Bayindir kept his place in between the sticks against Manchester City.

However, Ruben Amorim made it clear that he does not have a set No.1 and that added competition for places is what he wants.

“Nobody has a place that is [only] his place. Everyone has to fight. Everyone is fighting for a place. I’m just trying to win games. Trying to see what is the best option to win the next game. So, at the end of the season, maybe it is a different team on the pitch, we are just trying to win games and to get the best connections and win points.”

United’s game at Old Trafford against the Blues kicks off at 5.30pm BST.

Feature image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

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