The anticipation is almost over. As Ruben Amorim fine-tunes his Manchester United squad for his debut as head coach at Ipswich this Sunday, we are nearing our first look at his system and the players who will be given the initial opportunity to adapt to it.
The 39 year old has made it clear he plans to stick with his preferred 3-4-3 formation, and it would be a significant shock if United didn't line up in that shape at Portman Road. Since Amorim officially began work 10 days ago, armchair managers have been trying to figure out who will play where.
Amad at wing-back? Marcus Rashford at centre-forward? Mason Mount at No. 10?, Where does Alejandro Garnacho fit in?
These questions will only start to be answered in Suffolk on Sunday and in the subsequent matches.
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One area that hasn't sparked much debate is the centre of defence, and if anything, Amorim's three-man defence might actually solve a selection dilemma there. With Leny Yoro back in training, United have three excellent central defenders in their ranks and the trio could form a well-balanced partnership.
Since joining Ajax in 2022, Lisandro Martinez has been a key player. Recently playing as a left back and excelling as a left-sided central defender, the 26 year old seems perfectly suited for the role of a left-sided centre-back in a three-man defence.
His ability to distribute the ball intelligently from this position and comfortably defend the flanks makes him an asset, especially with the wing-back on that side likely to be more advanced.
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Erik ten Hag revisited familiar territory this summer by signing Matthijs de Ligt for £38m. Despite a shaky start, the 25 year old Dutch international has shown impressive form in recent weeks.
Since his move to Juventus in 2019, his career trajectory hasn't quite met expectations, but there are indications that his best form could be returning at Old Trafford.
Standing at 6ft 2ins, De Ligt may not be unusually tall for a central defender, but he is dominant in the air. In a back three, he seems well-suited to the central role.
He's comfortable with the ball at his feet, but he's likely to enjoy the physical battles with strikers and is better at defending central areas than being pulled wide.
This would allow Yoro to integrate into the team as the right centre-back. The 19 year old might not be ready to start this weekend, but it's likely he'll force his way into the starting line-up sooner rather than later.
Yoro, who spent part of his youth career playing as a midfielder, would be adept at building up play on the right due to his athleticism and willingness to defend that flank. A back three consisting of Yoro, De Ligt, and Martinez appears to cover most bases, providing Amorim with a solid foundation as he develops a new system.
Additional options include Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans, both comfortable with the ball and experienced in a three-man defence. Luke Shaw may also be eyeing the left wing-back position, having previously played in a three-man defence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United.
While there may be some initial challenges as Amorim introduces his new system, it seems he already has the ideal components for a back three in place.
