Ruben Amorim makes his end-of-season speech on the Old Trafford pitch.
Ruben Amorim has the full support of the hierarchy.
Before Manchester United had even unveiled Ruben Amorim as their new head coach last November, almost all the conversation was about his preferred 3-4-2-1 system.
identified Amorim as their first-choice candidate to replace Erik ten Hag and moved at speed to extract him from Sporting Lisbon.
Much of success in Portugal stemmed from his unique system. With United in desperate need of new ideas, it was inevitable they would transition to a three-at-the-back formation.
Indeed, Amorim confirmed what everyone anticipated when he set up with a back three for his first game in charge against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
The system means width is provided by the wing-backs, who are responsible for being equally comfortably defensively and offensively. Amad and were the first to be tasked with that role.
Eight months on, Patrick Dorgu looks set to go into next season as United's first choice left wing-back. Amad will face competition from Noussair Mazraoui, Dalot and potentially on the opposite flank.
Prior to Amorim's appointment, Amad was considered as a natural winger; he is now considered as a wing-back or a No.10. He is equally effective in either role.
Amad's adaptability to Amorim's 3-4-2-1 has been admirable. He is the only member of United's pool of wingers from the beginning of last season that is guaranteed to still be at the club come the start of next term.
United are prioritising the sales of , Jadon Sancho and Antony this summer and are also open to selling at the right price. None of them fit into Amorim's system.
Alejandro Garnacho is expected to be sold this summer. (Image: Annice Lyn/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
Rashford, Sancho and Antony all spent time out on loan last season and United hope to sell each of them on a permanent basis. Rashford is valued at £40million, is available for £32.58m and Sancho is expected to command a fee in the region of £20m.
Garnacho, who was the subject of a £40m offer from Napoli in January, is set to command a fee north of £50m, meaning United could find themselves banking a healthy sum of money for four players that do not fit into Amorim's system.
United need to raise funds via players sales to bring in new recruits this summer and they are trying to use their natural wingers as sources of revenue. There is value and logic in attempting to offload players who simply do not fit into Amorim's system.
As chief executive explained back in March, United will only commit to sales this summer that will benefit the team.
"We need to be cautious and, and we need to try to make as many good decisions as we can in recruitment," said Berrada. "And also when it comes to sales, we will do it purely on the basis of whether it helps improve the team or not, not for financial reasons."
Rashford and Garnacho rank as two of the most sellable assets within the squad, but United would not be actively looking to sell them this summer if they had important roles to play.
Marcus Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. (Image: Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images.)
By attempting to sell them, plus Sancho and Antony, United's hierarchy are in full support of Amorim. They are also showing they are in full support of his 3-4-2-1 system.
On the flip side, if United experience a rocky start to next season and feel they have no choice but to sack Amorim in search of an upturn in results, they may feel obliged to recruit a replacement well-versed in a three-at-the-back formation.
United are in need of a sense of stability and supporters are fully behind Amorim, confident he will turn the club's fortunes around after a first summer transfer window at the helm.
With the sales of wingers being prioritised, it shows that United's hierarchy are in full support of Amorim and his philosophy.