Ruben Amorim wants Manchester United to overwhelm the opposition.
In his 10 months as head coach, the Portuguese has tried to get his players to adapt to a 3-4-3 shape that seeks numerical superiority in key areas.
Be it in build-up or the creative patterns close to the opposition’s box, Amorim’s idea for how United should play is to create overloads, get the ball to the extra man, and trust that extra man to wreak havoc.
The results of this summer’s transfer window should enable Amorim to implement his methods more effectively. More than £200million ($268m) has been spent on three signings expected to start, two players have been sold, and three departed on season-long loans and are unlikely to play for United again.
Problems remain, but the reworked 2025-26 United has more of the characteristics necessary for Amorim’s football.
How is the head coach likely to build his starting XIs? Here is The Athletic’s assessment.
Goalkeeper: Does Senne Lammens bring clarity to a problem position?
Two unconvincing seasons for Andre Onana have led to United signing Senne Lammens. The 23-year-old has not been brought in to immediately usurp Onana, but to provide stronger competition than Altay Bayindir. Onana is also expected to miss several United fixtures at the end of the year due to AFCON duties with Cameroon.
Amorim might be tempted to give Lammens an earlier start in goal before AFCON. Lammens’ shot-stopping performances last season bear some resemblance to a young David De Gea, with the Belgian unfurling his legs like an octopus to stop all manner of shots.
It remains to be seen how well Lammens will be able to claim crosses and high balls in the Premier League, but this is a goalkeeper for the future, who might be worth giving additional playing time now.
Back three: Yoro a must, uncertainty elsewhere
Amorim’s back three requires highly athletic, ambitious ball-carriers. The wide centre-backs need to be comfortable when defending large areas of space and shuttling over to areas where one might expect a full-back. Leny Yoro‘s recovery pace makes him an ideal candidate, and it will be rare to see United play without him when fully fit.
The other two roles are harder to confirm, but Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui’s experience playing at full-back makes them compelling options. Lisandro Martinez is yet to return from a cruciate ligament injury, but his progressive passing skills will be a boon in the left centre-back role.
(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The head coach’s preference for the middle centre-back to push up into midfield during early phases of build-up means this player has to be comfortable both carrying and passing under pressure. Matthijs de Ligt has started the first three league games, supplanting Harry Maguire.
Centre-back is the position where the head coach is blessed with the most strength in depth, but he may still want recruits similar to Yoro, rather than Maguire, in future transfer windows.
Wing-backs: Lacking depth and character?
Patrick Dorga is the strongest option at wing-back. The 20-year-old carries a large responsibility to maintain the team’s width and to contribute in the final third.
Mazraoui and Diogo dalot have played in the position in the past. The former is an adept technician, while the latter is more of a physical defender. Shaw has the on-ball talent and ball progression skills to make for a quality left wing-back, but previous fitness issues have made the head coach reluctant to use him in the position. If newcomer Diego Leon has successful showings for the under-23 side, he may be an option towards the end of the campaign.
Amad Diallo teaming up with Bryan Mbeumo from right wing-back will be a tactical trend to keep note of. Amorim has expressed a fondness for left-footed players on the right (something that might affect Dorgu’s playing time in 2025-26), and the pair could make for a potent attacking threat.
Playing at wing-back can be an exhausting, difficult task. Expect to see plenty of rotation between players in order to keep players fresh.
Central midfield: The problem position(s)
United’s failure to sign an additional central midfielder will likely shape their season.
Amorim prefers his midfielders to be athletic tacklers with a fondness for a long pass. However, Bruno Fernandes is an (unorthodox) playmaker still adapting to a box-to-box role, while Casemiro is 33 and unable to marshal large areas of space to the level he did during his best years at Real Madrid.
Bruno Fernandes is still adapting to the box-to-box role (Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
The secondary pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte offers press-resistant dribbling from the former and aggressive tackling from the latter, but not enough progressive passing (Amorim is particularly fond of his midfielders hitting long balls into the channels for his wing-backs/No 10s to catch) or aerial dominance. The head coach has suggested Mason Mount could moonlight in central midfield, as he is a clever operator when out of possession, but he doesn’t solve the aerial issue.
Under-23 midfielder Sekou Kone is recovering from a head injury, but he might emerge as a senior-team option towards the end of the season. (The eye tests suggest Kone’s best skill comes in his passing, rather than his solid defensive acumen.)
No 10s: A bevvy of options
More than £150m for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo formed the majority of United’s summer dealings. The pair offer superior ball-carrying from deep compared to the 10s Amorim used last season.
Opting for Premier League-proven targets has eliminated the acclimatisation period and brought improvements in team-mates. Dorgu has looked better at left wing-back thanks to Cunha’s awareness of his overlapping runs and willingness to play the ball in behind. Mbeumo’s left-footed inswinging corners have been a benefit to Yoro, who is now hunting his deliveries at the back post.
Mason Mount‘s off-ball qualities make him an asset that Amorim (like many coaches before him) is loath to do without. The England international was substituted against Burnley due to a muscular issue, but his willingness to do the running of one-and-a-half players makes it easier for his less defensively inclined team-mates to get on with their best work. Amad has performed capably as a right No 10 in the past, offering a quality option should Amorim rotate.
Could Amorim move Fernandes back to the No 10 positions? Cunha and Mount’s issues could free up space on the left for the club captain, while Mainoo pairs Casemiro in central midfield.
Centre forward: Can Sesko and Zirkzee get it done?
Benjamin Sesko‘s relative lack of match sharpness has prevented him from starting United’s Premier League games. The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of his straight-line speed and cleverness in the final third, and Amorim will hope he can quickly bring goals to his currently unpowered team.
Joshua Zirzkee provides a decent alternative. The Dutchman is a self-described 9.5 who enjoys dropping deep towards the centre-circle to combine with team-mates, rather than live on the last line of a defence like Sesko prefers. Last season, Amorim experimented with Zirzkee in the No 10 positions before asking him to be “more selfish” in front of goal. The 24-year-old is unlikely to score 15 goals this season, but his willingness to be a facilitator could conjure an extra spark from team-mates.
Chido Obi-Martin is the tertiary option in case of emergencies.
Before a ball was kicked to start 2025-26, The Athletic believed United’s best XI to be the following:
When everyone is fit, The Athletic envisages Amorim choosing the following:
If Mount and Cunha are unable to play in the Manchester derby on September 14, The Athletic predicts/suggests….
(Top photos: Getty Images)