Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has identified a major change that he noticed in Manchester United’s Premier League encounter with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim oversaw a captivating end-to-end Premier League match on Monday evening, which ended in a 4-4 draw between Manchester United and Bournemouth.
Amad Diallo netted the opener inside the first 15 minutes before Antoine Semenyo netted an equaliser late in the first half for Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim has praised Man Utd’s attacking football vs Bournemouth
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Ruben Amorim quote after Bournemouth
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However, Casemiro headed home from a Bruno Fernandes corner in first-half stoppage time to put United 2-1 up against Bournemouth at half-time.
Bournemouth stunned United in the opening 10 minutes of the second half after Evanilson scored after the break before Marcus Tavernier netted from a free-kick.
United fought back late in the second half and found an equaliser through a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, with Matheus Cunha subsequently putting his side into the lead.
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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville is interviewed ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, England.
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What Gary Neville spotted about Man Utd’s playing style against Bournemouth at Old Trafford
Bournemouth rescued a point from their visit to Old Trafford on Monday, with Eli Junior Kroupi finding the back of the net in the 84th minute of the 4-4 draw.
Speaking on Stick to Football, Gary Neville could see that the Red Devils’ formation shifted towards the end of the match under United manager Ruben Amorim.
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The 50-year-old United legend suggested that the Premier League club were using a four-man backline at times instead of the three-man defence from Amorim’s system.
“Well, the last 20 minutes he was definitely 4-2-4, a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-4, but in the first part of the game, there was something definitely different, and it had been identified, I think, earlier on in the week,” Neville said on The Overlap’s podcast.
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Gary Neville makes a Man Utd claim about a major ‘leak’ at Old Trafford ahead of the 4-4 draw vs Bournemouth
News emerged ahead of the United match that the Red Devils were experimenting with the use of a four-man backline as part of a change in tactics under Amorim.
According to The Daily Mail, United were left frustrated that the information around the tactical changes had leaked and had ‘opened an investigation’ at the club.
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Neville highlighted that the Red Devils have become “annoyed” about the news that United could pivot from the use of a three-man backline during the Bournemouth match.
“Apparently, United are a bit annoyed that basically this has leaked out, that he was going to change to a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3,” he said.
“He [Amorim] was emphatic about not changing, but we’ve all asked for him to change and be agile.”
Amorim’s tactical system for United has been a contentious talking point about the Red Devils manager’s approach to his team since his arrival from Sporting CP.
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