Ruben Amorim has admitted Manchester United require another attack-minded wing-back in the mould of Amad Diallo if his 3-4-2-1 system is to reach its potential. The manager faced criticism after United’s 1-0 defeat to a 10-man Everton at Old Trafford, when his substitution decisions — bringing on Diogo Dalot for left wing-back Patrick Dorgu while chasing an equaliser after Idrissa Gueye’s red card — left the side light on genuine attacking threat down that flank.
Amorim said the squad still needs specific player profiles to suit his approach. “We need time to improve the characteristics of the team,” he explained, adding that against Everton United should have had “an Amad with the right foot to put on the other side to play against 10 men.” He insisted the club will try to recruit players who fit the roles required, and that the team is not yet the “perfect set-up” for his system.
While Amorim rejected direct comparisons with Crystal Palace, he conceded Oliver Glasner’s team are currently doing better. Palace sit fifth and United 10th, separated by two points, and a win for United at Selhurst Park could see them move above Palace. Amorim stressed the two clubs’ styles differ: “We play in a different way. You can understand that by data… They are a different club and they are doing things better than us.”
Glasner, meanwhile, defended the 3-4-2-1 concept, pointing out United’s attacking numbers and high expected goals tally, and praising the extra firepower United have added.
Pundits were scathing about Amorim’s in-game choices after the Everton loss. Gary Neville said on co-commentary that Amorim “has a question to answer” over bringing on Dalot instead of a more attacking option and called the change “embarrassing.” Jamie Carragher suggested Amorim has shown stubbornness with his formation, arguing the manager “sticks with a system rather than an idea of how to play.”
Statistical analysis underlines the issue Amorim described. At Sporting, Amorim’s wing-backs were major attacking outlets — Nuno Santos, Geny Catamo and Ricardo Esgaio combined for 26 league goals or assists in 2023/24. At United, wing-back contributions are roughly half that over a similar number of league games. Of United’s 13 wing-back goal contributions, nine have come from Amad; the other players deployed there (Dorgu, Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Amass and Tyrell Malacia) have only four goal contributions between them in a combined 67 starts. Those figures highlight the club’s need for another genuinely offensive wing-back to make Amorim’s system consistently effective.