Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United are no longer searching for a footballing identity. It is now visible in their build-up patterns, their pressing structure and their positional discipline out of possession. The chaos of previous managerial eras has been replaced by method, with a system that prioritises compactness, vertical progression and aggressive counter-pressing. But as United enter the most decisive phase of the season, marginal decisions are beginning to carry disproportionate weight.
Recent performances have not collapsed, but they have plateaued slightly. Control has dipped in certain phases. Attacks have slowed in others. And while Amorim’s project is undeniably long-term, even long-term projects require short-term calibration when patterns begin to settle into predictability. With fitness uncertainties, rotation demands and tactical match-ups all in play, two selection decisions now feel logical rather than dramatic. They are not statements on individuals. They are about structure.
Why Amorim Should Rotate Dorgu for Dalot
Patrick Dorgu in action for Manchester United
Patrick Dorgu’s emergence earlier this season was one of the most exciting developments of Amorim’s early reign. Explosive, aggressive and fearless in possession, he brought unpredictability to United’s right flank and offered a constant vertical outlet that opponents initially struggled to contain. In open, transitional matches, that energy has been a genuine weapon.
As United’s system has matured and opponents have adapted, however, the nature of that right-sided role has subtly shifted. The issue is not ability or mentality. It is profile. Amorim’s right-sided defender must now balance three high-level demands consistently: defensive recovery, interior support in possession and controlled progression in the final third. Dorgu naturally thrives when matches are stretched and tempo is chaotic. In slower, possession-heavy games, those strengths are not always maximised in the same way.
At times, United’s right side has lost a degree of positional stability when the attacking commitment arrives too early in the sequence. That can stretch the recovery channel and force the right-sided centre-back into adjustment defending rather than anticipation. It also influences United’s rhythm in possession. When control, rather than disruption, is required, United can become rushed down that flank.
This is where Diogo Dalot now offers a complementary alternative. Dalot does not bring the same explosive verticality, but he provides a calmer structural presence. His positional discipline, recovery awareness and interior passing angles suit matches where territory management matters more than repeated sprints. He supports build-up without over-committing and allows the rest of the system to breathe.
Amorim’s structure does not require constant width from the right. Much of United’s penetration now comes from the left side and the central half-spaces. What the right flank increasingly provides is stability. Dalot offers that platform. Dorgu, at this stage, offers momentum. Both have value. This change is not about removal. It is about rotation according to game-state.
Zirkzee Should Make Way for Mount With Cunha Out
Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee holds his head in his hands.
Premier League - Manchester United v Everton - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - November 24, 2025 Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee reacts REUTERS/Phil Noble
The second adjustment is situational but equally important. With Benjamin Sesko now established as Amorim’s clear first-choice striker at Manchester United, the structure around him has become increasingly specialised. When Matheus Cunha is available, Joshua Zirkzee’s qualities fit neatly into that secondary forward space. His link play, back-to-goal awareness and ability to connect midfield to attack help bridge the gap between Sesko and the central midfield, creating a fluid front structure.
When Cunha is fit alongside him, the dynamic functions naturally. Cunha stretches the defensive line vertically. Sesko pins centre-backs with his physical presence. Zirkzee operates between lines. The structure stays elastic and difficult to defend.
Remove Cunha from that equation, however, and the profile balance changes. Without a consistent depth runner alongside Sesko, United’s forward line can become compact and easier to contain. Passing lanes compress between the lines. Defenders step out with greater confidence. Zirkzee’s best qualities are most pronounced when he has a runner beyond him to stretch the game. Without that reference point, his influence naturally shifts.
This is where Mount changes the texture of the attack. His off-ball movement, vertical pressing and late arrivals into the penalty area introduce tempo rather than weight. He pulls markers away from the central lane. He creates interior overloads through timing rather than positioning. Most importantly, he allows United’s press to remain aggressive and synchronised from the front, supporting Sesko’s physical presence rather than crowding it.
In games where Cunha is unavailable, United no longer need a connector operating close to Sesko. They need motion. They need someone who turns circulation into movement and movement into disruption. That is Mount’s natural strength.
This is not a judgement on Zirkzee’s long-term importance. It is an acknowledgement that profiles must adapt around United’s first-choice striker. With Sesko leading the line, different combinations unlock different behaviours. Without Cunha, Mount becomes the more suitable tactical choice.
Why These Two Adjustments Could Shape United’s Momentum
Manchester United manager Ruben AmorimREUTERS/Phil Noble
On the surface, these appear to be minor selection tweaks. In reality, they go to the heart of how Amorim’s United function. His system is not built around star hierarchy. It is built around collective spacing, synchronised pressing and controlled territory. When one positional profile slightly tilts the balance away from that structure, the entire shape feels it.
Dorgu for Dalot is a decision about control versus transition. Zirkzee for Mount, when Cunha is absent, is a decision about movement versus congestion. Neither is emotional. Neither is a demotion. Both are about shaping the game-state rather than reacting to it.
United are now refining an identity rather than searching for one. The wrong full-back profile can affect territorial security. The wrong forward profile can alter pressing harmony. These details decide fine margins at elite level.
Amorim’s greatest strength has always been his willingness to adapt without hesitation. Not through panic, but through precision. The next test of that strength is already here, and it may be shaped by two subtle changes that say everything about where this United side is heading.