"He's going to have to make them do that" – Paul Scholes identifies key 'problem' Ruben Amorim faces at Manchester United
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has hinted that incoming Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim might face trouble in deciding who his wing-back pair will be at Old Trafford.
Amorim, who recently helped Sporting CP register a 4-1 UEFA Champions League win over Manchester City, will join the Red Devils on November 11. He is expected to change his new team's formation to a 3-4-3 setup, which has been crucial to his fine tenure at Sporting.
Ahead of Manchester United's 2-0 UEFA Europa League win over PAOK, Scholes suggested that Amorim could be forced to sign new wing-backs in the future. The Englishman said (h/t UtdDistrict):
"We talk about systems... I'm pretty sure you talk about the back-three. We've got six centre-halfs who can get chosen for that. It's never something that's really happened here, but it's what he does. He's got the two central midfielders in Casemiro and [Manuel] Ugarte... it's the wing-backs who could be a problem for me."
Scholes, who helped Manchester United lift 11 league titles, continued:
"Does he want more attacking wingers who will run back? If he wants that, I'm not sure [Marcus] Rashford and [Alejandro] Garnacho are right for that. Does he want two wing-backs in [Diogo] Dalot and [Noussair] Mazraoui, for instance, who might be a little bit better defensively but not as good going forward?"
Stating that Amorim has a big task ahead of him, Scholes concluded:
"[Ruben Amorim's] going to have to change the mentality of some players; I think a lot, I think I'd say three or four of the players, at least, especially forward players, don't want to do the ugly side of the game. Now, he's going to have to make them do that. [The players will] have to look into [Amorim's] eyes and say: 'I believe every word this coach tells me' and they're going to have to do that."
Manchester United defender back in training
According to The Athletic, Manchester United star Luke Shaw has returned to first-team training after recovering from his calf injury. He had suffered his recent injury at the start of his club's pre-season training.
Shaw, 29, last played for his side in a 2-1 Premier League away win at Luton Town earlier this February. He missed the rest of last term with a hamstring issue before making three UEFA Euro 2024 appearances.
Since arriving from Southampton in a potential £31 million deal in 2014, Shaw has registered 28 assists in 275 total appearances for his club.