Manchester United defender, Harry Maguire has come out in defence of manager Ruben Amorim’s tactical approach, stressing that Manchester United’s recent struggles have little to do with the 3-4-2-1 formation and far more to do with the players’ inability to perform at crucial moments, Softfootball gathers.
Manchester United have been a shadow of itself this season with heavy losses including a ridiculed 12-11 penalty upset to league two side Grimsby Town during the fourth round of the EFL cup.
Fabrizio Romano having earlier reported that Amorim has persisted on his decision to stick with his style of play that utilises three centre-backs and a two-man midfield.
He wrote on his official X handle:
This is my job, my responsibility, this is my life. The system will have an evolution and I am doing things my way. I hope I will have the time to change.
However, Maguire believes the scrutiny is misplaced and that the formation has been unfairly singled out simply because of disappointing results. Fabrizio also wrote on his official X handle this:
I think the formation is an easy one to go at, because we’re playing something a little bit different to everybody else. For me, it just became an easy one to go at when the results don’t work. The formation has been fine. Like I said, box to box we’ve been pretty comfortable in every game. Tactically we’ve been comfortable in every game. it’s got to be down to the players.
Maguire went on to emphasise that United’s issues lie in key moments where players need to step up and take responsibility.
Manchester United have played four games in the league with the next one billed against Chelsea at the Old Trafford. Maguire, who is on Amorim’s lineup tonight as they face Chelsea, has featured four times this season.
By the way, United have only won a game so far this season, having lost to City 3-0 in their last league game.
Formations with three centre-backs are not new to the Premier League, with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and even Antonio Conte’s title-winning Chelsea side of 2016–17 proving that such systems can succeed in England.
