The MUFC boss is preparing his side for his Old Trafford debut as United welcome Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in match 5 of the Europa League.
The manager sat with captain Bruno Fernandes and discussed the issues faced with a team having to try and adapt to a new formation and style.
One of the problems talked about was United in front of goal, the Portuguese said that "there is a concern in that but we have to improve as a team. We controlled possession but we were not dangerous." He mentions Marcus Rashford and how playing as striker is not the best position for him but when it comes to goals, "he has to be the one to want it."
He added that the likes of Hojlund, Zirkzee, Amad and Bruno all have to score more goals.
Amorim's formation is 3-4-3 but says that when it comes to his structure, "you don't know it very well." However, he also says that his side "can play different formations" which is necessary because oppositions nowadays are very dynamic and are constantly changing.
The manager spoke about how United changed into a 4-4-2 when they were defending against Ipswich indicating that his team are more than capable of switching formations.
After the draw last Sunday, Amorim name checked players to help get his points across better. People thought that by naming them, it could mean their time at the club is up or at least will be limited because most of the time, managers don't name specific players and leave them out to dry, except if they perform well. The 39-year-old said that he's only naming the players "to explain" his points and that "it's nothing about the players, it's about the ideas, about me." However, he knows that improvements still need to be made.
In terms of the team news, the boss says that Lisandro Martinez will be ready for tomorrow's game but while Harry Maguire is training, the Englishman will not be ready for the clash. On Leny Yoro, the manager did confirm that "he is training, but it's for fitness". That probably rules him out for Thursday night as well.
What Amorim did explain is that while some players may not feature in the game, the fact that they are training is a good thing. "Some guys that don't play in the next match will train, they have a real opportunity to train." He also mentions that he will rotate players for the next game.
The skipper mentioned that if a manager needs to be changed mid-season, "then something has gone wrong" and that they're focus is now on the future and trying to implement the new manager's ideas as quick as possible.
On his own adaptability, Fernandes says that he doesn't find it difficult to adapt to any position. "We're well aware of what we're doing in training and I'll pick up everything form different positions."
In terms of who the new system will benefit, the MUFC captain says that it shouldn't matter as it is about carrying out the instructions from the manager as well as you can. "It is about carrying the most you can from the dynamics. As the manager has said, you do not need to overthink things, you just need to know you have a base and a foundation."
Final Thoughts
Scoring is a problem. We've only scored 32 goals in 18 matches with 12 of those coming against Barnsley and Leicester in the Carabao Cup.
Our strikers have only 3 goals between them this season. We know that creating opportunities for the centre-forward is not something that we do very well and is an area that needs immediate improvement. Amorim's style is one that focuses on trying to create chances for the striker which is why his Sporting sides were so deadly up front and why Viktor Gyokeres has 16 goals this season.
For us to get the best out of our forwards like Hojlund and Zirkzee, we need to start making more chances for them.
The other issue is that we've been missing so many big chances resulting in this lack of goals. So either we aren't clinical enough or simply do not create the chances in the first place. Ipswich was a good example of the latter as other than the goal and Garnacho's opportunity early in the second half, United didn't actually create anything of note.
That is not MUFC level.
In terms of his structure and adaptability, that will take time. He is very much 3-4-3 and 3-4-3 only as that is the formation he's used at all his clubs: SC Braga, Sporting CP and now United, albeit it's only been one game. This would've begged the question of whether he is one of those who just stubbornly sticks with what he wants until it works (if it works) or will change if necessary.
I do believe that he is understanding that at some points, changing the formation and perhaps style may be necessary as different games calls for different actions. I think that Amorim is smart enough to have different ways of playing whenever necessary. This squad is already so used to 4-2-3-1 so that is an option straight away.
It was a bit odd to have him name check players after a game but tbh, I didn't actually mind it. That was his first game so there were obviously going to be things that he liked and didn't like from specific players. The good thing about name checking them is that he named almost the entire team with all of Onana, Mazraoui, Evans, Garnacho, Amad, Bruno, Dalot and Zirkzee being spoken about by the manager.
I think it only becomes a problem when he talks specifically about a certain player in a somewhat negative light. That can be a problem. What he did on Sunday, wasn't and if anything, should be something that some of those should look to learn from as he is trying to help them with what he said.
Good to have the butcher back as he has returned earlier than the reported 2-3 weeks suggested. However, saying that Yoro is back but only to train tells me that he won't be in the squad tomorrow night, which does suck because I thought we would see him in the team.
Background Image: Ruben Amorim | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)