Aaron's Analytics

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