Paul Scholes puts four Man Utd stars under pressure with Ruben Amorim ultimatum

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has voiced concerns over how as many as four players, including Marcus Rashford, will fit into Ruben Amorim’s tactical setup.

The Sporting boss is set to oversee his final match in Portugal before heading to Old Trafford, bringing with him a reputation for success and a thrilling 3-4-3 formation that dismantled Manchester City in the Champions League.

With Amorim’s arrival imminent, there’s a buzz around his potential impact, but questions linger about who will adapt to the demanding wing-back roles. Scholes acknowledges the challenges ahead, highlighting Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho’s defensive shortcomings, while also noting Diogo Dalot’s possible limitations going forward.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Scholes said: “There are three or four players, especially forward players, who don’t want to do the ugly side of the game. He’s going to have to make them do that. We talk about the back three, we have six centre-halves they can choose from.”

Scholes has weighed in on the tactical conundrum facing United, pinpointing the wing-back roles as a potential issue for Amorim. “He has got the two central midfielders in Casemiro and [Manuel] Ugarte,” Scholes explained. “It’s the wing-backs that could be the problem.

“Does he want wingers who are going to run back? If he wants that, I’m not sure Rashford and Garnacho are right for that. Does he want two wing-backs in Dalot and (Noussair) Mazraoui who might be a little bit better defensively but not as good going forward?”

He also noted Chelsea’s success under Antonio Conte with a similar formation, which saw them clinch the Premier League title in 2017, though he acknowledged that most English managers prefer a back four.

Scholes further suggested that Kobbie Mainoo might thrive in a more advanced role under Amorim, saying: “He has then got his two No 10s. (Bruno) Fernandes is one of them and I actually think Mainoo could be one of them too. I think he’ll be a better player higher up, it will suit it more.”

The former United midfielder also emphasised the importance of persistence when adapting to a three-at-the-back system, recalling his own experience: “The old-fashioned three at the back – we tried it a few times, and I reckon we lasted about 10-12 minutes before we said ‘it’s not working,'” he shared on The Overlap.

Scholes concluded by stressing the need for the team to adapt to the coach’s strategy, regardless of past formations: “We always went back to a back four, which is what we knew. We [United] are in a position now where you can’t look and think we’re a 4-4-2 team, or a 4-4-1-1 team – we’ve got to bow to whatever this new coach wants.”