- New Man United head coach used the formation well while Sporting boss
- But TNT Sports pundit Robbie Savage insists United will ‘struggle’ to play with it
- This Man City team is DONE and Pep Guardiola has been sleeping on the job – LISTEN NOW to It’s All Kicking Off! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Robbie Savage insists Man United will ‘struggle’ to play in new head coach Ruben Amorim’s much-loved 3-4-3 system until he is able to refresh his squad.
The 39-year-old guided Sporting Lisbon to two Portuguese titles while favouring the formation but has had mixed results with it so far at Old Trafford.
Amorim immediately implemented the system on his new team for his first match against Ipswich on Sunday and, despite taking an early lead at Portman Road, they could only draw 1-1 with the newly promoted side.
It was a similar story in Amorim’s second game as Alejandro Garnacho’s first-minute strike was soon cancelled out by European minnows Bodo/Glimt – before United ultimately held on for a 3-2 win.
And Savage, who began his playing career at Old Trafford, believes his former team will continue to run into problems.
‘They don’t have the players for that system,’ said Savage in TNT’s build-up to the Europa League match.
Robbie Savage told TNT Sports viewers that Man United will struggle in a 3-4-3 formation
Savage’s comments look justified when Man United’s defence creaks as Philip Zinckernagel gives European minnows Bodo/Glimt a shock 2-1 lead in the 23rd minute at Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim’s side recovered to win 3-2 but the Portuguese is left with a few headaches
‘I think he needs huge recruitment in January or the summer to get the players for that system.
‘In Portugal with Sporting, he’d dominate games with a 3-4-3 because they’re one of the best teams against lesser sides.’
Against Bodo/Glimt, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez played as a back three trio for the first time, with the latter only lasting an hour before being replaced by Luke Shaw.
However, Savage believes that the problems with the formation run deeper than just the defenders.
‘I don’t think (Alejandro) Garnacho is a 10 in this system. I think he’ll drift wide,’ said Savage.
‘In a 3-4-3, every player needs to cover huge spaces, especially the centre-midfielders.
‘Every player should defend and every player should attack.
‘It’s all about players and I don’t think he’s got the players for this system.’
