Manchester United clash with Crystal Palace this weekend at Selhurst Park, and Ruben Amorim has a unique task to overcome.
In the Premier League, there is a rarity of managers using a 3-4-2-1 system, but Sunday midday sees two come head-to-head.
Manchester United and Crystal Palace are two of the only clubs in the league to run the formation, to varying levels of success, and Ruben Amorim is the manager who faces plenty of criticism for his tactics.
Amorim has often defended his 3-4-2-1 system with arguments that it is very adaptable. But this weekend will see the two three at the back systems against each other, with Amorim now discussing whether they are really that similar.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim during the Premier League match.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim discusses Manchester United’s system compared to Crystal Palace
Amorim and Glasner are both tied to using a 3-4-2-1, although besides the formation, there is a great deal of difference between the pair.
Speaking on Friday ahead of United vs Palace, Amorim was asked whether he takes confidence from Glasner’s success. To which he had an honest admission.
“We play in a different way. You can understand that from the data. It is hard to explain everything. They are a different club, and they are doing things better than us. That is quite simple.
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You don’t say that all 4-3-3 teams play in the same way. We play in a different moment, we defend in a different space, we attack in a different way. They are just doing things better than us.”
Do you agree with the United In Focus writer predictions for Man Utd vs Palace? Let us know yours…
Adnan Riaz: “2-1 to United, we must win this match and send a statement of intent ð¥”
Dale O’Donnell: “2-1 to United, Ruben Amorim needs a response from his players ðª”
Dan Coombs: “1-1 draw, United to take the lead and then blow it ð”
Jonny Maze: “3-2 to United, the players should be raring to get back on track ð”
Sean Fisher: “1-1 draw, the recent record vs Palace is not a pretty sight ð®”
Vatsal Gupta: “2-1 to United, Palace will be tired from midweek ð´”
Manchester United players celebrate scoring vs Tottenham.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
What do you think the score will be?
Amorim is spot on, as there are plenty of differences, and it is time people realised that; however, it is also frustrating to hear him admit that Palace are just better at the moment right ahead of the game.
Ruben Amorim can learn from Oliver Glasner
While he is the head coach of Manchester United, Amorim is still early in his career, as he reminded journalists during his press conference.
“When I have two weeks for the international break, I watch games of every single manager. I only have six years as a manager, and I am always trying to learn.”
However, despite stating his desire to learn, Amorim doesn’t change enough about his system, but he can learn a lot from Glasner.
Palace’s system is such a success because it allows their opponents to play football and then hit them on the break with lightning quickness and precision through the wing-backs and forwards.
Ruben Amorim possession problems
Manchester United average 1.73 points per game in matches with less than 50% possession, and just 0.79 points with more than 50% possession.
Manchester United wins vs losses based on possession.
United struggle to break teams down, and so, for the time being, it might actually be smarter to play to the strengths of the system and forget trying to dominate for the sake of results.
This could be what buys Amorim time to evolve as a coach and adapt his system to dominate and win eventually.