Aaron's Analytics

It’s tough to transition from a 5-4-1 block to an aggressive press

Wide centre-backs need bravery and mobility to cover the distances when the midfield press

However,big gaps are appearing between defence and midfield

Amorim needs to address this issue

Let’s review below 🔴🧵 

A recurring pattern in Manchester United’s games is the midfield two stepping up to press, while the centre-backs either don’t press or are too slow to react, leaving a huge gap between defence and midfield.

Let’s look at a few examples 👇🏻

Brighton (H)

🔺United pressing with midfield four + Zirkzee up front
🔺Zirkzee - Van Hecke
🔺Amad- Dunk
🔺Ugarte - Ayari
🔺Mainoo - Baleba 
🔺Bruno - Veltman

Estupiñán started really wide to stretch United block but then inverted into massive gap behind Utd midfield line 

Another example against Brighton (H)

🔺5-4-1 Mid block
🔺Joao Pedro has so much space behind midfield line

The gap is way too big between defence and attack

The defence is dropping too easily and the CB’s need to step out to deal with Joao Pedro 

Bournemouth (H) 

First clip looks like decent United press

🔺Zirkzee locking off one side of pitch
🔺Amad + Bruno matching up

2nd Clip
🔺Ugarte - Christie 
🔺Mainoo - Adams

Looks good but Kluivert is in acres of space behind the midfield line. 

Makes the press ineffective 

Fulham (A)

United in the 5-4-1 mid block

🔺Lock off one side of pitch
🔺Looks ok

But what happens shows how easy it is to manipulate United’s block

🔺Hojlund is shadow marking Berge while pressing Anderson
🔺Berge makes run into space to provide Anderson with passing lane 

🔺Wall pass played to Berge
🔺Bruno jumps from Lukic to Berge
🔺Berge plays the ball to Castagne 
🔺Ugarte now has to deal with 2 players in each half space

Look at the space that Lukic finds himself in

Easy to breach

Utd get away with it on this occasion but the issue remains 

Another example from the Fulham game was late on

🔺Uniteds midfield is caught in no man’s land
🔺Big space behind midfield appearing again
🔺Anderson find Muniz
🔺Muniz hits first time pass to find Pereira
🔺 Pereira has time and space to play in Adama Traore 

Liverpool (A) - Our best game under Amorim

🔺Same issue as against Brighton appearing here with Trent inverting behind the midfield line
🔺Clear overload in build up
🔺Trent has space to operate 

The difference in this clip is:

🔺Ball gets played to Jones
🔺Martinez backs up press and gets a tackle on Jones preventing him from finding Trent

But if Martinez didn’t get a tackle in - TAA has time and space facing Utd goal to pick out a pass 

⚠️Danger 

Southampton (H)

🔺Space again behind Utd back line (not as big this time)
🔺Ball gets played to Dibling 
🔺Martinez is late to press
🔺Dibling turns him and is running at United goal

The Liverpool game was an example of Martinez being proactive

This is him being late to press 

Why is this occurring:

🔺Wing backs getting pinned back by opposition wingers
🔺Wide centre backs unwilling/late to step up high to press
🔺Defence dropping too quickly
🔺Amorim’s insistence of keeping a +1 at the back usually in the form of the CCB
🔺Lack of pressing triggers

Potential Solutions:

🔺Wing backs stepping up higher to press opposition full backs when Utd attempt to lock off one side of pitch. 

This will allow Utd number 10s to press opposition centre backs without having to worry about who’s behind them

🔺Wide centre backs rotating out to mark opposition wingers when pressing high. 

Also wide centre backs to step into midfield to press opposition number 10 (Martinez vs Liverpool)

🔺Defence needs to be braver holding their defensive line. 

When teams play through United’s block, the defence’s first instinct is to drop deep, creating massive gaps in midfield.

They need to stay high and keep the team compact at all times.

🔺Amorims insistence on keeping a +1 at the back

Yes it makes sense and I understand it but there are times when you need to commit to the press:
🔺WB’s press full backs
🔺WCBs press wingers 
🔺CCB to match up with striker

Utd do it from opposition kick outs, need to do it more

🔺Pressing triggers 

I am hoping this will come with more time on training pitch. 

When Bruno jumps from a midfield two is should be like a rope pulling the wide centre backs into midfield to press opposition 10s

Defenders need to be braver to step out

It sounds like I’m being very critical of Amorim but I’m actually a big fan of the way Amorim communicates and how he is resetting the culture, and I really like many aspects of his game model. 

I love the way he has dealt with the Rashford situation—tough but necessary.

I am viewing Amroim through the lens of getting Utd back competing for league titles and competing in UCL. 

Now, improving player quality will 100% help

But even with better players, this inherent flaw in Amorim’s game model will be limiting in United’s long-term resurgence

I am hoping that with more time on training pitch and better quality of player coming in that this issue can be rectified but it is a concern

If you give 🔝players time and space in those half spaces your dead 

This is something that can be solved but it needs to be addressed

Amorim has spoken about the need to adapt in press conferences. With better players coming in and more time on the training pitch, I’d be hopeful that some of these flaws can be ironed out.

Here’s hoping 🤞🏼 🔴

#ManchesterUnited
#MUFC 
#Amorim

🔴Man United need more movement in the final 3rd

Under Amorim, Utd get the ball to the final third but it becomes so rigid and static and is quite easy for the opposition to defend

Because Utd have a back 3- they need to use the wide centre backs more in the final 3rd

A consistent pattern is the ball going to the wing-back, but with two opp. players in front of him, there’s no underlap or overlap to create separation

This makes it difficult to penetrate, and the ball is recycled, leading to a slow+lethargic attack

Amad has 2 players to beat 

In this case - Yoro could provide the overlap

This would allow Amad to:
🔺Play the pass to Yoro for a cross
🔺Cut inside and cross/shoot
🔺Cut inside and switch play 

It opens up so many more options for Amad.

Instead he has turn back and recycle play 

From a defensive point of view: 

Rangers are keeping 1 forward up the pitch as an outlet. 

So if Yoro does go:
🔺De Ligt shifts across to Rangers forward 
🔺Martinez tucks in and plays as +1 

With De Ligt shifting across - he is also an out ball if Amad decides to recycle

One of the best examples of the wide centre-backs underlapping was against Liverpool—United’s best performance under Amorim so far. 

You can see - 

🔺United have clear overload on the wing. 

🔺Martinez underlap creates space for Bruno to attack which leads to the goal 

Another benefit of committing the wide centre backs to the attack is the availability of the half space crosses. 

Martinez cross for Bruno goal was exquisite. It was begging to be put in back of the net. 

This would bring a much needed weapon to Man United’s final third play. 

Against Rangers - usual pattern - 
🔺Dalot receives ball on the wing. 
🔺Garnacho makes underlap 

Martinez is too deep in this case - he should be be further forward occupying the left half space - it is tailor made for a first time half space cross into the box 

I know Amorim said they haven’t had time to work on final 3rd patterns and combinations in training. 

But I feel this is a small tweak that could added straight away. 

Our strikers would be the biggest beneficiaries of this tweak. 

Højlund and Zirkzee need more service 🔴

Amorim exploited Liverpool’s press yesterday.

Slot’s insistence on keeping a +1 at the back, with Diallo and Bruno pinning the full-backs, meant United’s wing-backs were out balls all game.

This allowed United to control the game with the ball.  

Mazraoui is the out ball here 

This pattern kept showing up all game.

Salah wants Trent to press behind him, but Bruno has him pinned.

Also, Slot is focused on keeping a +1 at the back.

Martinez can either:
🔺Play around to Dalot, or
🔺Make a simple pass to Ugarte, who can then find Dalot. 