Amorim Stands Firm on Bold Tactical Gamble as Man Utd's Hot Streak Comes Crashing Down
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has revealed his concerns that bringing on an additional striker while chasing an equalizer in Saturday's clash with Nottingham Forest could have actually weakened his side's performance.
Following a sequence of three consecutive wins and an early strike from Casemiro, United found themselves level after Forest netted twice within a three-minute span in the second period, forcing them to hunt for an equalizer that eventually arrived through Amad Diallo's stunning volley with ten minutes left on the clock.
Prior to Amad's match-saving moment, Amorim faced criticism from supporters regarding his tactical changes. While his team desperately needed a goal, he chose to bring on defenders Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui, keeping players like Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee unused as he withdrew the defensive pairing of Diogo Dalot and Leny Yoro.
"At times, adding more attacking players doesn't guarantee improved performance," Amorim clarified. "Looking at Diogo Dalot, he frequently finds space for crosses but favors his right foot and consistently cuts inward, limiting options...
"Patrick offers similar movement but, when in possession, he'll move wide and deliver crosses from those areas. When you try to cut inside, Matheus Cunha is positioned to collect the pass.
"Observing the second half's opening, Leny consistently had room to advance with possession. Nous operates as a fullback, so I attempt to utilize each player's strengths. It's not about talent since we have quality options available.
"Additionally, constantly interrupting the flow makes me feel like I might disrupt our rhythm. We were set to improve after halftime, so my instinct was to maintain continuity.
"I believe Amad can perform at a higher level, he's extremely threatening in one-versus-one situations, so we sometimes rely heavily on his individual brilliance. His overall display wasn't exceptional, yet he managed to find the net. He possesses the ability to achieve much more, and we dropped two points today.
"With [Kobbie] Mainoo and Mason Mount available, plus Josh [Zirkzee], you must visualize the tactical setup. Josh excels in a role similar to Cunha, operating between defensive lines. Analyzing this match, we required someone positioned in the penalty area. Ben [Šeško] is ideally suited for that responsibility.
"Occasionally, it depends on the game's demands and they understand it's simply about timing. We strive to perform optimally, it has nothing to do with our bench quality. We encounter numerous matches where this situation arises."
Amad: Complete Faith in Amorim
Amad's brilliant volley eventually secured a 2–2 stalemate for United, though the talented winger showed little satisfaction at the final whistle, instead expressing disappointment over ending their victorious run.
"I'm uncertain if it qualifies as Goal of the Season," he commented. "We're genuinely frustrated to leave with just one point.
"Facing Nottingham Forest is never straightforward. We aimed to secure victory after three successive wins. We feel let down because we're returning with a single point. However, we'll take lessons from this experience.
"I believe we now possess confidence. We trust our manager and have faith in his approach. We're working hard to excel. Everyone maintains focus now. We had secured three consecutive victories and hoped to make it four but faced misfortune.
"We're progressing gradually and maintain belief in our manager as he does in us. Each match feels like a championship final for us. We aspire to elevate this club to elite status. We wanted victory today and feel disappointed as a collective."