Manchester United’s Tactical Shift Under Amorim Yields Positive Results
Manchester United are showing marked improvement in form and style, climbing to within one point of the Premier League’s top four after three consecutive wins, driven by significant tactical adjustments implemented by manager Ruben Amorim.
A key change has been a dramatic increase in direct play, particularly through long passes from goalkeeper Senne Lammens. United are now averaging 23.2 launched goalkeeper passes per 90 minutes – the most in the Premier League and a 76% increase from last season. This shift began under the previous manager, with instructions to Andre Onana to go long when playing out from the back was risky, but Lammens’ arrival has amplified the tactic. The team’s overall play has also become more direct, attempting the third-most long balls in the league, a significant change from their league-average performance last season. This tactical evolution comes as the Premier League itself appears to be embracing a more robust and chaotic style of play, as detailed by The Guardian.
Beyond the goalkeeping distribution, United are completing 3.1 crosses into the penalty area per game, a 62% increase and the second-highest total in the league, despite the arrival of a traditionally target-man forward. Defensively, the team is conceding possession less frequently in their own defensive third, with only 30% of touches occurring in that area – a substantial decrease compared to the last three seasons. This has led to a reduction in risky losses of possession, down to 2.4 per game from 5.4 last season. A change in corner-taking strategy, moving away from outswinging deliveries and embracing inswingers, has also been implemented, with mixed results so far, scoring three set-piece goals but also conceding 0.53 expected goals from set pieces per game. For more information on set-piece strategies, see StatsBomb.
These changes, while subtle, represent a clear departure from Amorim’s approach last season, which culminated in a 15th-place finish. The team’s faster, more direct style is a response to previous struggles and a proactive attempt to improve their position in a highly competitive league. Officials have indicated they will continue to analyze data and refine the tactical approach as the season progresses.
