Amad
Amad impressed again against Viktoria Plzen
Ruben Amorim has revealed he wants one of his attacking midfielders to be a left-footer after praising the impact Amad had in the Europa League win against Viktoria Plzen.
The 22-year-old has been fielded as a right wing-back so far in Amorim's 3-4-3 system, with Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee all getting chances to play in one of the two No. 10 roles.
But Amorim had touted Amad for a move to that position, and he handed him the chance to impress there in Plzen, with Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia playing right wing-back and left wing-back, respectively.
Amad set up Rasmus Hojlund's equaliser with an excellent dribble and almost created another goal for Mount. As a left-footer, he offered something different from that position, with Fernandes, Mount, Rashford, Garnacho, and Zirkzee all right-footers.
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Antony, who came on at right wing-back in the Czech Republic, is the only other attacking left-footed option in the United squad. Amorim will now have a selection dilemma ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad, with Amad continuing to look one of the team's most creative players.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game last night, he revealed he wanted the youngster to stay high rather than coming deep for the ball, but also explained the value of having a left-footed option in that position.
"He can be a good player in that position," Amorim said. "We need left-footed players in this team to play that role. In the first half, he was coming for the ball too much. He needed to play near the opposition defence more. He will improve in the future for sure.”
Amad has four assists in Amorim's six games in charge, which doesn't include creating Hojlund's goal on Thursday, as it was a shot that was saved that teed up the chance for the Dane.
Amorim has begun fielding wing-backs on their natural sides, with Dalot on the right and Malacia on the left, against Arsenal and Viktoria Plzen.
Speaking about Dalot at the end of November, he said: "He’s very powerful. We have to rotate him sometimes because although he always looks fresh, it’s not like that, he’s not a machine. He’s a very good player. He’s better on the right and we will play him there more [but] nowadays a player who can play on both sides is perfect because you can put him in different positions.
"I expect the same as you saw last season. A great player who can help the team. He's really a team player, you can feel it in the way he lives the game, so he’s very important for us."
If Dalot plays more regularly on the right, that could free Amad up to be a more regular No. 10, providing that left-footed option that Amorim wants.