“He’s a really smart manager…but…”: United star strongly suggests Amorim may have to abandon 3-4-3 system

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has suggested that Ruben Amorim may be forced to abandon his preferred 3-4-3 system that made him so successful at Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim arrived at United on Monday to officially take over his new role as head coach. A day later, he was photographed greeting a number of the players including Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw.

The Portuguese is just awaiting his visa before he can take charge of training sessions at Carrington. This process is expected to conclude swiftly.

Amorim guided Sporting to the Liga Portugal title in 2021 and 2024. The last time the Lions had won it was in 2002. When he departed, he left the Estadio Jose Alvalade outfit in top position in the league, having won all 11 of their matches.

After beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 4-1, Sporting are also in a very good position to advance to the next stage of the Champions League.

Central to that success has been his 3-4-3 approach, which emphasises defensive compactness. There has been plenty of speculation over whether Amorim will seek to implement this playing style at United.

According to Fernandes, Amorim may have to go a different way.

The skipper told club media, “He’s a really smart manager that has done really good things for Sporting tactically – it’s really good, what I’ve seen from the games for Sporting.”

“But obviously as we always speak, you can’t bring or transform what he has done at Sporting into here, because you have different players, you have different ways of play and everything.”

“I’m pretty sure that the idea of football he has, independent of the way he wants to play, is going to be a good one and it’s going to bring us success. That’s what I hope and I’m pretty sure that [is what] he hopes too.”