Ruben Amorim’s first Manchester United XI confirmed, Ten Hag’s trusted pair returns as Marcus Rashford takes new role

In the meantime, Portman Road will witness Amorim’s managerial debut and his prints over this Man Utd squad are already clear to see.

Here’s the confirmed lineup for Amorim’s first-ever game in charge of Manchester United and initial learnings from it-

Man Utd confirmed XI: Andre Onana; Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Jonny Evans; Amad, Diogo Dalot; Christian Eriksen, Casemiro; Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes; Marcus Rashford.

Man Utd’s XI on Ruben Amorim’s managerial debut

Right off the bat, it looks like Amorim has done what he promised and installed a three-at-the-back system at the club.

Andre Onana was the most predictable selection between the posts and the Cameroonian will hope to keep his form up for the new manager as well.

With a paucity of centre-backs and three needed every game, 16-year-old prodigy Godwill Kukonki has been included in the full squad but he was never going to be thrown straight into the first-team.

Those places are taken up by Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Jonny Evans, with the new setup calling for a change of roles in their position.

Diogo Dalot and Amad take up the much-talked-about wingback spots since Amorim had said he’d start with fullbacks so the latter’s performance in the role will be interesting to watch.

The Manuel Ugarte-Casemiro pivot from Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim time has been changed probably due to Ugarte’s hectic international break.

The three attacking spots have been occupied by captain Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, and Marcus Rashford, who is starting as the striker.

Things learned from Ruben Amorim’s first XI

It is obvious that Amorim has gone with players who had time with him on the training pitch which is understandable since he is bringing a new system with him.

Amad being retained alongside Fernande speaks to his sparkling form under Van Nistelrooy during his four games in charge.

Amad made himself undroppable after that and Amorim has respected the form criteria as well. Marcus Rashford is the inclusion that will be talked about because he’s never liked playing as a striker.

As things stand, that is where he might have to make his name under Amorim for now and his absence from the English side in the break has helped his case to get selected here.

Leny Yoro was on debut watch and the security of having two defenders alongside him would have eased him into it but a long injury layoff has Amorim cautious with him. Mazraoui looks like the starting right-sided centre-back.

One wingback is the fullback which should suit Dalot’s game while Amad can work as the inverted wingback to solidify the midfield and do an attacking role.

The midfield should change the most with time but as of now, he has gone with the partnership which Erik ten Hag started his tenure with!

Ultimately, his team can be summed up as a continuation of what was working under Van Nistelrooy but with his own systemic and player role tweaks.

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