He's a genius — Amorim slammed for misusing Ivorian winger

Former Sunderland head coach Tony Mowbray has criticised Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim for playing multiple players in unideal positions, specifically Amad Diallo. 

Mowbray coached Diallo during the Ivory Coast international’s time on loan at the Stadium of Light. He has firsthand knowledge of Amad’s talent and believes the right-wing-back position he is saddled with in Amorim's position is an inefficient way to utilise him. 

Amorim's insistence on the 3-5-2 formation has been a source of criticism. Many analysts and fans believe the formation underutilises many players and Mowbray shares similar sentiments. 

"In my opinion – and can I say this from a position of total humility that he's the manager of Manchester United; who am I? Who am I to tell him what to do?” he said on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast.  

“But in my stomach, it feels like you don't have to play 5-4-1, whatever you want to call it. You don't have to do it. If the group of players is screaming at you to play a three-man midfield to protect the mobility of a Casemiro, if you want to play him or whoever it might be. 

"You maybe have to put an extra man in there, so why would you be so stuck on one system and trying to force Amad as a right wing-back? Amad, who's a brilliant footballer, Man United class I would suggest. I speak to Gary Pallister a lot about this when we sit and have coffee near my street most days. Amad, he's a genius."

Mowbray believes that Amad's talents are better deployed closer to goal. He posited that the Red Devils will get better out of the Ivorian as a winger rather than at wingback. 

"I talked about not having to look at the ball; the ball's stuck to his left foot. He is a brilliant football player and a brilliant human being. And you're playing him at right wing-back just to fit into your system.”

“He should be bending it in the top corner with his left foot; he should be sitting people on their backside and scoring wonderful goals like I know he can. Why's he chasing people into his own box playing right wing-back?”