Following a chaotic 4-4 draw, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim addressed the intense formation debate by downplaying the importance of the tactical system, stating the real issue lies in the “details” and the players’ mental approach rather than whether they use three or four defenders.
Despite being historically staunch about his 3-4-2-1 system, manager Ruben Amorim made a tactical adjustment following reports of training a back-four shape.
This shift, driven by upcoming AFCON absences, resulted in a chaotic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth. When quizzed about the formation change in the post-match press conference, Amorim cryptically replied: “That is for you to discuss, not me.”
Amorim emphasized that the overall structure is secondary to the details and mental aspect of the game.
He insisted: “It’s always the same thing, the formation is not the most important thing, it’s the way we set up the team and try to take advantage from the opponent.” He stressed the need for adaptability and “more variety” in their game, especially with AFCON looming.
The Portuguese coach suggested the team’s inconsistency stems from execution errors rather than a structural issue.
He clarified his unexpected stance, stating: “We are not winning games sometimes in the details not because it’s a back four, back three, back five.”
This indicates a pivot toward fixing fundamental flaws in player performance, regardless of the tactical system deployed.