Manchester United welcome Sunderland to Old Trafford on Saturday for a Premier League fixture that could have huge ramifications for Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese coach is under immense pressure at the Theatre of Dreams and anything less than three points against newly promoted opposition will leave his position under huge threat heading into the international break.
United will start as favourites with the bookmakers but kick off nine places below Régis Le Bris’ side, who have enjoyed an impressive start to their top flight return.
The Black Cats have lost just once so far this season and United will need to be at it from the get-go in front of expectant home support.
Superior quality to win the day
Much has been made of Amorim’s 3-4-3 system but Saturday represents a chance for the players to do the talking with the individual quality in the respective starting XI’s clearly in United’s favour.
However, United have come unstuck against inferior opposition far too often under Amorim’s guidance and he will need his big players to step up if they are to secure what would be a vital three points.
Bruno Fernandes is key to almost everything United do well and the Portuguese star should find more space in the middle of the park this weekend with the home side expected to have more possession than their hosts.
The captain looks more comfortable with Casemiro by his side. The Brazilian is available to return after suspension ruled him out of the defeat to Brentford last time out.
Casemiro is more suited to the holding role than Manuel Ugarte and this should allow Bruno to drift into attacking areas and link-up successfully with United’s front players.
The qualities of Mathues Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have lifted United’s attack this season and getting the ball between the lines to Cunha will allow Mbeumo to stretch defenders on the opposite flank.
With Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko better served flying forward, gaps should appear for Cunha and Fernandes to weave their magic in behind Sunderland’s midfield.
The much maligned back three should act as possession conductors and be able to feed Bruno in the dangerous half spaces to create the overload of quality player closer to the opposition goal than it has been in recent weeks.
Sesko ready to leave his mark
United’s new striker finally got off the mark against Brentford and will be chomping at the bit to add to his tally tomorrow.
With Cunha and Fernandes pulling the strings, the big Slovenian will do well to put his link up play aside for the afternoon and focus on runs in behind the Sunderland back line in transition.
United do play through the park quickly and Fernandes especially has the ability to deliver fast balls with quality that could leave Sesko through on goal if he is alert.
Furthermore, with United expected to have a lot of the ball, getting on the end of crosses as he did for his goal last weekend could also prove a fruitful method of attack for Amorim and Sesko in particular.
The former Leipzig man is excellent in the air and if United do find themselves camped in the opposing half, using that weapon isn’t something they should turn their nose up at.
Having a centre-forward of Sesko’s profile allows him to make a nuisance of himself in the box and for all the easy on the eye build-up play modern football demands, United need goals and using the big man in this way is a handy way of winning matches.
Masters of their own downfall
At the other end it will all be about concentration, United have consistently shown a horrible knack of making a game hard even when in full control due to inexplicable lapses at the back.
Cheap give aways and loose marking have seen United give away avoidable goals this season and they must be wary of a side that will come to Old Trafford with no fear and full of confidence.
Ex-Arsenal man Granit Xhaka will look to repeat the 90 minutes Jordan Henderson enjoyed against United last week and stopping him pulling the strings should go some way to thwarting the away side.
Cunha’s energy should be enough for him to keep tabs on Xhaka in defensive plays but still find space in transition and when United have the ball from deep.
All told, United have a fantastic chance of restoring some pride before the second break of the season and ease the pressure somewhat on their manager before the crunch trip to Anfield in two weeks time.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
