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New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is considering playing Marcus Rashford through the middle, as per reports.
Erik ten Hag’s first season at United was very promising, as the Red Devils finished the season in third place and ended their trophy drought by lifting the League Cup. The biggest reason behind United’s impressive campaign was Marcus Rashford’s scintillating form. The Englishman was at his prolific best, managing 30 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.
However, his form declined rapidly the next season and so did United’s, as they recorded their worst league finish in Premier League history. Despite a promising pre-season, the 27-year-old has had a slow start to the 2024/25 campaign as well, and Ten Hag has lost his job.
Regardless of many concerns about his ability and mentality, the Englishman remains United’s best attacker and his form has the potential to heavily influence the reign of yet another manager at Old Trafford.
It seems Amorim recognises that and according to GIVEMESPORT he arrives at Carrington with a plan for the United superstar.
It is claimed that the Portuguese is set to hand Rashford “a chance to impress as the number nine in his 3-4-3 system” in an attempt to fit him into his lineup.
Amorim’s system, which paid great dividends in Lisbon, relies on a narrow attack, featuring a number nine and two number tens behind him.
The dynamic left-winger, known for his pace and ball-striking ability, is certainly not a playmaker, leading to question marks over his role in the new gaffer’s plans.
The report adds that “insiders who are familiar with Amorim’s way of thinking have suggested to GIVEMESPORT that it would not be a surprise to see him try Rashford as a centre-forward.”
Viktor Gyökeres‘s ability to attack the channels and space behind defenders in transition worked wonders at Sporting CP and it is expected that Amorim will look to implement similar ideas in England. In that regard, Rashford’s skill sets could come in handy and help the player rediscover his best form.
Rasmus Hojlund is also a threat in transition but the 21-year-old has struggled to consistently get on the scoresheet. Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, likes to drop deep like a number 10. Garnacho has the pace and dribbling skills to trouble any backline in Europe, but he is too wasteful in front of the goal.
As such, at least until the summer transfer window, Rashford, who has four goals to his name in all competitions this term, appears to be the most experienced and suited attacking option through the middle for Amorim.
