Man Utd are disjointed as Erik ten Hag’s tactics expose Amrabat being stuck and the team lacking a position to ‘maneuver’

It is not necessary to delve deeply into the past to recollect a day when Sofyan Amrabat was widely sought after as a prominent midfielder in the global football landscape.

Sofyan Amrabat's initial struggles are a byproduct of Man Utd's failings this season

The Moroccan player demonstrated exceptional performance as his country advanced to the semi-final stage of the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar. Amrabat, at the age of 27, was perceived as a viable solution for any side seeking to enhance their midfield with a robust presence. 

Given the initial challenges faced by Casemiro and the other midfielders of Manchester United during the early stages of the season, it seemed unequivocally logical for the club to pursue his signing.

Nevertheless, after being on loan at Old Trafford for two months, Amrabat has not yet had a significant beneficial influence on Erik ten Hag’s team.

Amrabat is yet to really get up to speed in England

One contributing factor to this issue is his occasional deployment in the left-back position, which is not his natural playing position. However, his ability to acclimate to the rapid tempo and high level of competition in the Premier League has proven to be challenging.

This essay aims to examine the primary tactical factors that currently impede Amrabat’s progress.

Amrabat has struggled to control his zones on the pitch

Amrabat is encountering difficulties in effectively managing spatial elements. Under the leadership of Ten Hag, who is currently summoning underperforming players for crucial discussions following the resounding defeat against Newcastle earlier this week, Manchester United has encountered difficulties in effectively dictating the course of matches this season. The defensive, midfield, and attacking components of the club have exhibited a lack of cohesion and coordination.

Consequently, the suboptimal pressing structure has led to a situation where the midfield is required to compensate for the significant voids that emerge when the pressing strategy fails. Now, let us direct our attention towards the individuals comprising the midfield roster of Manchester United.

Here Amrabat is slow to react to get the ball back after a heavy touch from Erling Haaland

Casemiro and Amrabat can be classified as prominent figures in the deeper midfield positions, while Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount have also demonstrated their versatility by occasionally occupying similar roles.

What is the commonality among all four of those players? None of the aforementioned entities possess a comprehensive scope or extent. Amrabat’s performance at United has been challenging thus far because to the substantial spatial coverage that is demanded of him.

The player’s adeptness in efficiently safeguarding the space for the Moroccan national team during the World Cup was observed. However, it is worth noting that international tournaments frequently exhibit a lesser level of intensity and pace compared to the Premier League.

A structural defensive failure here means Amrabat is left trying to track back and defend the space

The individual exhibits a certain ambivalence in regard to his spatial orientation, resulting in a delayed response to potential threats.

Given his very limited agility, this combination proved to be lethal. There are instances in which the players surrounding Amrabat exhibit uncertainty over their respective duties, resulting in Amrabat assuming the responsibility of resolving all issues alone, thereby compromising his positional integrity.

To mitigate the impact of Amrabat’s limited mobility, it is imperative for United to establish more effective frameworks and systems surrounding him.

The present discourse concerns the structural issues pertaining to the region of Amrabat.

Fans often tend to attribute poor performances to a certain player, as evidenced by the criticism directed towards Andre Onana, Casemiro, and Amrabat.

Nevertheless, the current challenges encountered by the team might be attributed to a deficient comprehension of positioning and functions in their entirety.

Structural issues have been heavy at Man Utd this season

Amrabat’s performance has exhibited a relative lack of effectiveness, which has been further exacerbated by the inadequate organization within the team’s midfield. The strategic aspect of positioning holds significant importance in the game of football. Specifically, when defenders fail to maintain optimal spacing with the fullbacks, opposing players exploit these gaps by executing attacking runs.

This phenomenon is particularly evident when engaging in a match against one of the leading teams, as the strategic movements of their midfielders from the defensive line to the attacking line are specifically intended to expand and test the limits of your defensive framework. 

The players of Manchester United have been repeatedly deployed in positions or roles that are foreign to them, resulting in difficulties for players like Amrabat in effectively controlling their designated areas of the field.

Here Amrabat is caught out by Julian Alvarez who spins and attacks the space behind him with Eriksen being too far away

The presence of player profiles such as Amrabat’s or Casemiro’s in the central midfield necessitates a strategic arrangement of the remaining team members to prevent their isolation.

Currently, Manchester United is not demonstrating the desired performance.

Amrabat exhibits a lack of speed when in possession of the ball.One additional challenge that Manchester United has encountered thus far in the current season pertains to the deficiency in both intensity and progression during ball possession.

Here Amrabat is having to move right across the pitch to pick up the run of an opposition player as his teammates remain passive

This is one of the factors that Ten Hag has attempted to utilize players such as Eriksen and Mount in deeper midfield roles, despite their relative deficiencies in ball retention.

Amrabat’s passivity in his passing has resulted in a lack of effective build-up play for Manchester United.

The individual in question exhibits a tendency to prioritize risk-averse strategies, resulting in a frequent disruption of counterattacks by Manchester United due to a deceleration in the speed of play.

Amrabat has often been too passive with his passing

Manchester United is widely recognized as a side that excels at capitalizing on counter-attacking opportunities and effectively transitioning from defense to offense.

In order to optimize effectiveness, it is necessary to possess midfielders who demonstrate a willingness to execute forward passes, thereby locating attackers or strategically placing the ball in unoccupied areas.

By adopting a strategy of shorter and more conservative play in possession, Amrabat can effectively prompt the opposing team to apply increased pressure.

Amrabat plays a sideways pass rather than trying to play through the opposition press

If the player demonstrated a greater inclination or ability to maintain possession for extended periods, it would result in the opposition being pushed farther into their own half. Amrabat’s ability to pass the ball in a progressive manner has not been a prominent aspect of his gameplay. However, Manchester United was aware of this limitation when they made the decision to recruit him.

Once again, it is imperative that the team’s structure and positioning be enhanced in order to facilitate improved ball distribution, enabling players such as Amrabat to effectively advance the ball.

Here Amrabat plays a safe pass which invites the opposition press rather than playing to the space on the left

In conclusion, it can be inferred that the information presented supports the notion that…

Amrabat’s limited speed and agility have been somewhat exposed during the initial months of his tenure at Manchester United. However, the overall absence of organization within the club has further exacerbated this issue. The player in question is currently facing formidable opponents in the realm of space, hence necessitating an enhanced defensive framework on the part of Manchester United. This strategic adjustment is needed in order to fully capitalize on the abilities possessed by individuals such as Amrabat.