Ruben Amorim has new roles for two Man Utd stars. (Image: Getty)
Ex-Premier League defender William Gallas has backed Ruben Amorim to transform Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot into attacking players in his new Manchester United system. The Portuguese head coach is widely expected to deploy a three-at-the-back formation at Old Trafford, which should involve a number of new roles.
Amorim is preparing to instil a new philosophy into the United squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag, who splashed over £600million across his two-and-a-half-year reign.
Sporting metamorphosed into Europe’s most prolific goalscorers under Amorim’s tutelage, and he now has the task of replicating the empire he built in four years in Lisbon.
Such a drastic tactical switch has unsurprisingly drawn mass intrigue. However, Gallas is confident that United’s current squad suits the 39-year-old’s demands.
The Frenchman also backed Mazraoui and Dalot – set to reform as wing-backs – to excel under Amorim’s stewardship in M16.
“When you look at the players at Man United, I think they would be better suited to the three-at-the-back,” Gallas told Express Sport on behalf of Genting Casino’s blog.
“I think it will take them a few games to adapt, but it’s basically understanding the movement of the formation.
“Someone like Noussair Mazraoui is not really a traditional full back, but he could excel in this new system. Diogo Dalot will be good as a wing back too.”
Noussair Mazraoui has excelled at Man Utd. (Image: Getty)
Amorim has six senior centre-backs at his disposal – an ideal roster for such a demanding position in his preferred formation.
Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs De Ligt, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof will soon be joined by £59million summer signing Leny Yoro and former captain Harry Maguire.
Martinez and De Ligt are almost sure starters, given their status as United’s first-choice centre-back pairing this season.
Gallas believes Yoro will join the duo and complete Amorim’s defence once he is ready to start matches regularly.
Before then, the former Chelsea and Arsenal defender wants to see Evans feature between De Ligt and Martinez.
He added: “If I was Ruben Amorim, I would play Matthijs de Ligt on the right, Johnny Evans in the middle, and Lisandro Martinez on the left side of a back three.
“When Leny Yoro comes back from his injury, he will replace Evans in the middle. That is the best partnership.”
Amorim’s first opportunity to get a glimpse of his 3-4-3 system in action in the Premier League falls next Sunday when United travel to Ipswich Town.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1975647/Man-Utd-news-Ruben-Amorim-Erik-ten-Hag-EXCLUSIVE