Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has said that one first-team Manchester United star has “done alright in spells” in Ruben Amorim’s tactical system at Old Trafford.
Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim is now preparing for Manchester United’s final Premier League match on the weekend amid their woeful 2024-25 campaign.
United currently languish in 16th place in the Premier League table and Amorim’s Red Devils side will face Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
Amorim has struggled to turn the tide back in the Red Devils’ favour after he left Sporting CP last November and replaced Erik ten Hag as United manager in 2024.
United have only won 10 of their 37 Premier League matches in the 2024-25 campaign and Amorim’s men have tasted defeat 18 times alone in the league.
The Red Devils also failed to partially redeem their abysmal season on Wednesday evening after United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
United and Tottenham met at the San Mames Stadium and Spurs put their hands on the Europa League trophy after Brennan Johnson’s first-half opener and winner.
READ MORE: Harry Maguire’s powerful reaction to one player after Man Utd’s Europa League final loss vs Tottenham is real eye-opener
Photo by Cesare Purini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Photo by Cesare Purini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
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Micah Richards makes his feelings clear on Diogo Dalot and Ruben Amorim’s tactical system for Man Utd
Ruben Amorim’s tactical system at Manchester United has been met with criticism since the 40-year-old ex-Sporting CP boss rolled out his blueprint at Old Trafford.
United have switched to a three-man backline and adopted two No 10s and wing-backs as part of their playing style under Amorim, which has yielded mixed results.
Amorim has been urged to pivot away from his system for the short term, but the United manager has stuck by his tactics and philosophy amid the poor results.
Diogo Dalot became the first-choice right-back under former United manager Erik ten Hag and has retained his importance as a key player for Amorim as well.
Amorim has often deployed Diogo Dalot as the right wing-back and the 26-year-old full-back has not been as impressive in his attacking threat as his defensive displays.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Micah Richards believes that the Portugal and United right-back is not the perfect fit for Amorim’s tactical system at the club.
“I think they need two new wing-backs as well,” he said.
“Dalot has done alright in spells but they need players who can go into a low block but when they attack know how to get the best out of that position in terms of a delivery into the box.
“How many times have we analysed them this season and they can’t get a ball into the box and it’s mishit or pulled back into the wrong area.
“This is not me saying the United players are bad but they’re bad in this system that the manager is persisting with and that’s the problem.”
READ MORE: Two of Ruben Amorim’s standout Man Utd aces both make UEFA’s Europa League Team of the Season after Tottenham defeat
Alan Shearer on what Ruben Amorim needs at Man Utd ahead of the summer transfer window opening
Amorim is expected to begin his overhaul of the United first-team squad in the summer and Alan Shearer is convinced that he needs four signings minimum.
“They need to spend big in four positions,” Alan Shearer said on The Rest Is Football.
“They need a new goalkeeper, a new centre half, they definitely need some new midfielders and obviously a top striker, so there’s the four important positions.”
United’s final Premier League match of the 2024-25 campaign against Aston Villa at Old Trafford is scheduled for a 4pm kick-off time in the UK on Sunday.