-Credit:Shaun Botterill/Getty Images.
With the exception of Altay Bayindir replacing Andre Onana in goal, Ruben Amorim must be feeling tempted to name an unchanged team for Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester United produced their best performance of the Portuguese chief’s reign last weekend, earning a well-deserved point in a spirited 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. Amad earned the Reds a share of the spoils after strikes from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah had wiped out Lisandro Martinez’s opener.
Amorim recalled Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes to the starting XI against the Merseysiders, taking the number of changes he has made to his starting line-up over his first 12 games in charge to an eye-catching 51.
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However, the former Sporting Lisbon chief’s refusal to alter his back-three was a rarity. After Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Martinez had started the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United six days earlier, they kept their places, marking only the second occasion United had started with the same defence in successive games since Amorim’s appointment.
Such was the way United conceded two fairly cheap goals against Newcastle, it was argued Leny Yoro should come back into the team at Anfield, not least to offer the backline some speed against a rapid Liverpool attack.
However, Amorim, speaking at his pre-match press conference last Friday, highlighted the need for leaders to step forward and take responsibility. At the age of 19, Yoro is yet to earn his leadership badges, making it easy to understand Amorim’s refusal to reintroduce him to the back-three from the start against Liverpool.
Yoro was drafted in from Lille last summer in a deal that could eventually be worth £58.9million. Real Madrid were actively pursuing the Frenchman’s signature, too, making his addition to the squad something of a coup for United.
Signed at the age of 18, Yoro, of course, was signed with an eye on the future. He signed a long-term deal at Old Trafford and United have high hopes that he can become a key figure over the coming years.
That is not to say he is not capable of playing a key role between now and the end of the season. United’s mid-season switch to a three-at-the-back formation has opened up an extra centre-back spot in the starting XI after previously playing with a back-four under Erik ten Hag.
Leny Yoro has been playing catch-up this season due to a pre-season injury. -Credit:James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images.
Yoro is increasingly likely to become United’s first-choice right-sided centre-back in years to come, with his speed and ability to defend big spaces making him a suitable fit for one of the wide centre-back roles. But he currently finds himself locked in a battle with De Ligt for the right-sided centre-back position.
The Dutchman, who also joined United last season, has started the last two matches on the right of the back-three, starting four times in that position under Amorim in total. On all of those four occasions, Maguire has started to De Ligt’s left in the middle.
Martinez, despite his patchy form this season, is a shoo-in at left-sided centre-back, meaning De Ligt, Maguire and Yoro are competing for the two remaining places. Yoro is currently third in the pecking order, but United’s upcoming fixture list will open up opportunities for him.
Having three high profile centre-backs to choose from is a selection headache Amorim will welcome. Any coach will gladly accept strength in depth and quality in reserve.
And that was something Ten Hag often highlighted the need for during his spell in charge at Old Trafford, outlining the importance of having two outfield players competing for every position.
Speaking in August 2023, the former United manager said: “In many positions you need double and in the goalkeeping position we need three really good goalkeepers who can all keep the Premier League-standard so we will cover that.”
Ruben Amorim faces a selection headache -Credit:Carl Recine/Getty Images.
He reiterated the message earlier that year, saying: “If the squad is so strong that you have in every position double the same quality, then it’s good.”
Ten Hag had a very valid point. When injuries set in, particularly at the start of the 2023/24 season, the Dutchman was often short of adequate cover. The quality of United’s squad depth has been – and continues to be in several areas – a problem that has needed addressing.
However, he has options at centre-back.