Squares and triangles

I still believe Ruben Amorim is one of the most exciting new-school managers and has now the opportunity to adapt and evolve his tactical approach. That evolution will naturally and eventually happen and will probably reflect on how Amorim’s teams build-up.

Like I said last week, at the moment, United’s squad has decent talent to build from the back (Onana, Lisandro, Mainoo), but the system isn’t clear enough to do so and can be easily exploited. Usually, Manchester United build-up in a 2+2-esque shape, in which the holding midfielder and the central center back stay at the edge of the box to form a square with the remaining center backs- this has proven to be meaningless, easy to press and whoever plays the central center back role (De Ligt or Maguire) is not comfortable inverting to the midfield.

Looking at the bigger picture, Amorim prefers a 3-4-3 formation, which unfolds in a 3-2-5 shape when attacking. In fact, United usually play best when they can pin the opponent in their half and sustain pressure in their 3-2-5 shape- this is overall a good attacking formation, which other elite teams often rely on. Thus, it would be most beneficial for Manchester United if they can shape their 3-4-3 formation to build from the back and, when on the attack, to take on their 3-2-5 shape and play from there. With the proper players, training and dynamism, this can easily be done if we rebuild the 3-4-3 into a 4-3-3.

In the following image, I drew how his 3-4-3 scheme can unfold into a 4-3-3, being it represented by the black spheres, while the opponent’s press, in a standard 4-4-2, is represented by the blue spheres.

One of the center backs indeed inverts to the midfield, acting like a #6 (in pure Amorim style), while the midfield holds their position. Projecting wingbacks means the wingers can do the opposite movement, coming short to receive the ball, creating doubts in the press. In this shape, the 4-3-3 is clearly settled but can be easily rebuilt into a 3-4-3 or into a 3-2-5 if the conditions are met, because the players are occupying positions in the field that promote those kinds of natural, fluid and dynamic changes.

As how this could play out in-game:

Instead of a square, the center backs form a triangle, which is the most versatile and common geometric figure in football. The #6 will also form a new triangle with the midfield, thus being the connective point between defense and midfield; this requires that the player performing this role is comfortable on the ball, has quick thinking and the dynamism and agility to connect the team and drive it forward. You can also notice that this latter triangle plays right into the opponent’s square press. With the right physicality and technique, this three can play out just fine and breaking four pressing players, hence, forcing the opposition to break the press.

On the remaining areas of the pitch, while the wingbacks go wide and project themselves forward, the wingers can perform a counter-movement, going deep to receive the ball. If done correctly, this can create doubts on the opponent’s line players and possibly create a half space behind the full-back, which the wingback (or even the #8) can move into. In order to have numerical advantage on the back, the #9 is doomed to be outnumbered upfront, although he can go deep to receive the ball and create space for other players (just like the wingers do) or to try and go behind the defense if the center backs decide to play it long (Gyökeres role).

This can be played in an infinite number of ways and this is not necessarily the best one to do it, but the principles are there: allowing tactical fluidity and dynamism instead of rigid positionings through movements and counter-movements, especially on the wings, while still having advantage on the back to build and play from there, not compromising the team in deep areas of the pitch.

This rehearsal was done based on Ruben Amorim’s ideas, such as the “inverting center back” and the dynamics portrayed on the wings, which was most characteristic of his Sporting team. Nevertheless, if those ideas are to prevail at Old Trafford, Amorim will need the help of energetic and dynamic wingers and a center back who’s comfortable with the inversion role, profiles Manchester United is currently lacking.

Sources:

-Tactical board