New role for Fernandes, Casemiro specialist: How Man United will line-up in bold new formation under Amorim

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The changes that incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim could introduce at the club.

Ruben Amorim to Manchester United is the big story that has dominated sports media headlines following the sacking of Erik ten Hag. United have made the Sporting CP boss their main target, and it's now down to him to sort out his backroom staff and say farewell to the Portuguese capital.

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Given his career trajectory, 3 Added Minutes are confident that he will introduce a new system, a 3-4-3. This setup would be a highly attacking version, distinct from the counter-attacking style Antonio Conte used in his title-winning season at Chelsea.

United already have players well-suited to this formation, so a major squad overhaul wouldn’t be necessary for it to function effectively.

Goalkeeper

Ball-playing goalkeeper André Onana will take his place in between the sticks. The Cameroonian, who endured criticism last season, is now arguably the club’s best performer so far this season.

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Right central defence

Diogo Dalot and Victor Lindelöf will compete for the right-side spot in the back three. Dalot, a Portuguese right-back, may not be an ideal wing-back under Amorim and will likely shift to the right central defence position, where his height will be an asset. Lindelof, known for his ball-playing ability, can also provide cover in this role. He could make a fine transition into the ‘wide centre-back’ role.

Left central defence

Lisandro Martínez, a left-footed central defender by trade, is ideal for this role. He excels at carrying the ball forward while maintaining a ruthless defensive approach.

Centre of the three at the back

Matthijs de Ligt seems tailor-made for this role. Already accustomed to a three-back system from his days at Juventus, his ability to step into midfield would suit Amorim’s style perfectly. Harry Maguire, when fit, could be a reliable backup.

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Right wing-back

Noussair Mazraoui, a natural wing-back capable of playing on both flanks, could fill this position. Even as a fullback in a traditional four-back system, he provides width in attack. His versatility would allow Amorim to switch to a back four during games when needed by having him withdraw to a deeper position, while Martínez could shift wider to maintain balance.

Left wing-back

Alejandro Garnacho would likely be Amorim’s choice here. Among the club’s left-sided players, he has the energy and youthful drive to balance attack and defence. With Mazraoui, a traditional fullback, on the right, a more offensive left wing-back like Garnacho would maintain balance on the field. Even the pragmatic Conte employed this approach, using winger Victor Moses and full-back Marcos Alonso on opposite flanks at Chelsea.

In a 3-4-3, having traditional wingers on both flanks risks compromising defensive stability, while two fullbacks might make the team overly defensive.

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Defensive midfielder

Summer signing Manuel Ugarte, who previously played under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, is familiar with this role. His performances earned him a move to PSG, and now he finds himself at United, potentially set to reprise this position.

Central midfielders

While some might expect Amorim to play Bruno Fernandes alongside the defensive midfielder, Fernandes is not ideally suited for that role in a 3-4-3. Amorim would likely opt for Casemiro or Christian Eriksen to partner with Ugarte in central midfield.

Right forward

Fernandes would likely play just behind the striker. Rather than playing as a traditional wide forward, he would frequently drift inward to serve as a number 10 behind the centre forward. Amad Diallo and Antony could provide backup for this role. Marcus Rashford is the primary choice for this spot, though Fernandes and Garnacho could also fill in depending on availability.

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Centre forward

Rasmus Højlund remains the only traditional centre forward in the squad. Unless Amorim brings in a new striker in January, he’ll need to rely on the Dane. Joshua Zirkzee is another option, though he is more of a false 9, adept at creating scoring opportunities for others.

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