EBL

Fulham become a 3-2-5 with the ball as Castagne tucks in and Robinson moves high on the left. United match up well with that in their off-ball shape (5-2-3). United haven't always got their press right, though. Sometimes the #6's are passive, sometimes the last line is.

United can match up and apply maximum pressure from restarts but they find it difficult to do so in open play when things are more fluid & the last line struggle to back up the press. Then issues arise when the top end of the pitch don't apply pressure but the last line is high.

With the ball, Mazraoui's inversions have helped United get control on the left-hand side of their build-up. Wilson man-marks Mazraoui which has freed up time and space for Maguire + Martinez. On the far-side Iwobi shadow marks the lane to the #8 AND presses. Wilson only marks.

It's an interesting tactical battle and most of United's best moments have come down their left as a consequence of this tactical ploy from Amorim. It has freed up Garnacho to receive high & wide. But outside of that issues persist with little-to-no rotations on the other side.

We can attribute some of United's issues in the high build to a lack of quality, but there is a clear lack of dynamism because there is little rotation across the pitch. Outside of Mazraoui's inversions their positioning is rigid. Very little in the way of fluid rotations..

The double pivot are 'set' positionally. Amad and Dalot very rarely interchange. It's only Mazraoui and Garnarcho that are providing any sort of dynamism. Other top teams have guys inverting into midfield and rotating in wide triangles. Amorim's team are in set & rigid roles..

The issues with the ball in tandem with the inconsistency of United's press has seen Amorim's team have 0 shots so far. The commentator said that is only the 4th time that has happened in 20 years for United. Issues remain (even though Mazraoui's inversions have been helpful).