Ruben Amorim Hints at Major Manchester United Strategy Shift: "I'm Trying"

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that he is "attempting" to develop toward a scenario where he can transition away from his beloved 3-4-2-1 formation.

This marks a notable change in approach for a coach who fewer than fourteen days ago stated that "not even the pope" could convince him to abandon his preferred tactical setup.

United's latest performances have been more persuasive than any papal correspondence. Saturday's disappointing 3–1 loss to Brentford marked the team's third league loss in their first six matches as United were thoroughly outplayed by a side whose primary objective is merely to stay in the division.

Bees manager Keith Andrews required only two statements to describe how his team exploited the weaknesses in Amorim's 3-4-2-1. "You attempt to establish numerical advantages", the former set-piece specialist explained. "One example being if we deploy a three-player midfield, they field only two."

For the first occasion, Amorim suggested some hint of tactical adaptability moving forward. "I believe once more the enjoyable aspect is attempting to adjust how you view football to each opponent's system," he shared with TNT Sports. "I consistently express the same point. This will develop. We will modify the formation. However, it's not a conventional system and occasionally you require more time to transition from this setup to other formations.

"And that's my current approach. I'm simply attempting to guide the team according to my football philosophy."

Matthijs de Ligt contended that the individual displays of the players—including himself—bear more responsibility than the tactical system. Nevertheless, Amorim's persistence in forcing players who lack the inherent attributes to excel in that formation won't assist these struggling individuals.

Amorim: Man Utd Are Too Unpredictable

While Amorim remains firmly committed to his 3-4-2-1, every opposing manager understands precisely how United will approach matches. Every manager except Amorim, who finds himself consistently puzzled by his players' weekend performances.

"The interesting aspect is that you require a squad to comprehend—not the result—but you can already predict how the match will unfold, [whether] we will maintain possession," the former Sporting CP tactician elaborated. "This will occur. Perhaps we'll lose due to a counter-attack or set piece situation, but the match will follow this pattern.

"With my current squad, it's impossible to predict."