Manchester United’s new one, Ruben Amorim, has already received plenty of hype for his tactical flexibility as expectations continue to grow in Manchester. As Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, recently remarked in admiration at Amorim’s approach. He encouraged Amorim to think about turning United into a transition team to re-shape it more around their strengths. This recommendation is based entirely on Amorim’s recent form and the tactics he has used and favors using with teams he has coached.
Amorim’s tactical style has made a low-block approach very visible during his time at Real Braga, SC Braga and Sporting CP. In reality, he has deployed this approach to success in 11 of his last 16 starts. This strategy is perhaps best highlighted in games where Manchester United has been under serious siege. According to Guardiola, learning to play like this would tap into United’s enormous capabilities, mainly in close games.
Low-Block Strategy Proves Effective
Amorim’s low-block approach has been used six times in matches when Manchester United came in as huge underdogs. Incredibly, the squad was able to remain defensively organized throughout these games, conceding just a single loss. During this span, the total xG were pretty spot on at 0.85-1.3. It’s a testament to Amorim’s squads consistently being able to stay organized defensively and prevent goals, even in the saddest of circumstances.
Across these ten matches playing the low-block strategy, Amorim’s teams have managed to score only 8 goals compared to 12 against! This is a testament to their ability to punch above their weight against much larger foes. This tactical discipline should form a bedrock for Manchester United. It arguably is as important to them to reestablish and maintain their position in the pantheon of the Premier League.
Strong Away Record Against Top Teams
Ruben Amorim has shown a commendable record when managing away from home against teams that finished in the top three the previous season. In his past 10 away games against bottom six sides, he has lost just four times. This statistic speaks to his capacity to win the hard matches. It is likely to be doubly important for Manchester United as they prepare for an especially weighty campaign in 2023/24.
Furthermore, Amorim’s sides have performed exceptionally well against the bottom half of the table, routinely flexing their muscle and dominating to win back points. With a robust defensive structure paired with a flexible tactical setup, Manchester United can pose a serious threat in high-stakes games.
High Intensity and Fouls
Though described as defensive, Amorim’s tactical style has proven to be extremely fruitful. His teams have committed the most fouls this season—by far—in the league. They have now averaged 13 or more fouls in 17 straight matches. This relentless, high-intensity approach is the perfect compliment to their physical, aggressive style of play. It reflects a dangerous aggressiveness that sometimes brings counterproductive upsets.
Due to the high level of play, there are many fouls called that will often stop the tempo of the match. This last piece, too, is indicative of Amorim’s philosophy—creating a truly hellish environment for his opponents, especially those who play expansive, possession-dominant football. That capacity to break up the cadence of those sorts of teams will be what gets Manchester United through their next batch of matches.
Leave a Reply