JAMIE CARRAGHER has highlighted the subtle changes made to Manchester United by Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils fell to a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday to compound them to a record of just two wins from their last eight games.
However, United came away with credit for the performance at Villa Park considering the six first team players unavailable due to international duty, injury or suspension.
Goals either side of half-time from Morgan Rogers proved to be United’s undoing as Unai Emery‘s Villa marched on to a tenth win in a row – the club’s best run for more than 110 years.
There had been a shift to more of a back four shape in the 4-4 thriller against Bournemouth, but United appeared to revert back to a more familiar 3-4-3 on Sunday.
But taking to Sky Sports on Monday Night Football, former Liverpool star Carragher revealed subtle change in tactics from Amorim in recent weeks.
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He explained that the changes were less down to formation and more about subtle changes to the role and responsibilities of select players.
The ex-defender highlighted the role of club captain Bruno Fernandes, showing how the 31-year-old had a higher starting position than in recent weeks.
With the Premier League’s best creator – his 51 chances created being 15 more than any other player – positioned deep in the pivot of United’s midfield, there had been a huge clamour to see Fernandes moved further forward.
And Carragher highlighted how the Portuguese had seen his position moved higher compared to his midfield partner, Manuel Ugarte in the case of the Villa game, and allowing them to pick up the ball.
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Carragher, 47, then highlighted the position of Patrick Dorgu for United off the ball.
He showed a clip of United shifting into a back four shape with Dorgu moving to the left side of the four with the ball on the right side where Diogo Dalot was.
Then when United won the ball back Dorgu immediately moved out to occupy an aggressive wing-back position higher up as United transitioned to a back three on the ball.
Despite the spotlight of Carragher’s analysis being on Fernandes, United are now set to be without their talisman for a month after he suffered a hamstring injury in the first half against Villa.
Out of a possible 325 games, Fernandes has played 308 times for United since he joined the club in January 2020.
Fernandes’ injury and the uncertain future of Kobbie Mainoo have only heightened the scrutiny around the existing midfield options at the club and the potential need to add some fresh legs in the winter market.
