Rúben Amorim has hinted at a possible change in positions following the injuries to Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount as Manchester United face Man City on Sunday.
Manchester United are set to resume their Premier League campaign this weekend, with Rúben Amorim taking his side into a derby clash against Manchester City.
Both Amorim and Pep Guardiola have seen their teams stutter in the early weeks. United have taken four points from three matches, while City find themselves 13th after also collecting just three points.
The derby now gives each side a crucial chance to ignite their season and pile extra pressure on their neighbours in what has been a turbulent start to the campaign.
The last meeting at the Etihad ended in dramatic fashion, as Bruno Fernandes and Amad struck late on to complete a remarkable 2-1 comeback win for United shortly before the new year.
Amorim admits new positions to come vs City
With the City tie looming over Manchester, Amorim unfortunately confirmed that three of his Reds, Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount, and Diogo Dalot, are all unavailable to face Guardiola’s men, with the former two injured against Burnley two weeks ago and Dalot suffering an issue with Portugal.
While Dalot is not too much of a miss as he was not otherwise expected to start, losing Mount and Cunha is a bigger blow, with the duo having started all three Premier League ties so far. In particular, Cunha has been United’s most consistent attacking threat from both the left flank and down the middle.
Speaking to club media, Amorim has admitted that during the international break, he has been rewatching past fixtures against City and trying to think about new positions players could start in to cover for the injured trio.
“It was really good,” Amorim said when asked what he did during the last two weeks. “I watch the games again. I try to watch the last games against City.
“I try to imagine different positions for the players, especially when you have some injuries. You have to prepare the future to be comfortable in any situation.”
Ferdnandes set to start as part of the front three
Against City, many are hoping that summer signing Benjamin Šeško will finally be handed his first Premier League start in Red as centre-forward, with City’s fragile back line there to be dominated by the 6’5″ Slovenian.
Yet with Mount and Cunha sidelined, Fernandes now looks the most likely candidate to step in on the left of the attack if Amorim is looking to put a new player in that position ahead of previous occupants such as Joshua Zirkzee.
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If Amorim studied the tie United played at the Etihad last season, he would have seen Fernandes start deeper, but Mount’s injury after just 14 minutes brought on Kobbie Mainoo, forcing the captain into the front three on the left while the youngster slotted into midfield.
Should Šeško lead the line and Bryan Mbeumo continue on the right, the “outstanding” Fernandes is the natural choice for the left. That would allow Mainoo to take his place in the starting XI as one of the deeper two midfielders.
While Manuel Ugarte produced an “unstoppable” display in December’s 2-1 win, all signs point to Casemiro instead partnering Mainoo and being tasked with shielding the defence.
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