I am trying - Amorim opens up on Man Utd 3-4-2-1 formation

Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has finally indicated a willingness to abandon his fiercely defended 3-4-2-1 formation.

The concession follows Saturday’s dismal 3-1 defeat to relegation candidates Brentford, United’s third league loss in their opening six fixtures.

Just two weeks ago, Amorim had emphatically stated that "not even the pope" could persuade him to drop his signature tactical setup.

However, the sheer weight of United's poor results, coupled with clear tactical dismantling by opponents forced the Portuguese coach to reconsider.

"We are going to change the system," Amorim told TNT Sports

"It’s not a normal system and sometimes you take longer to go from this system to another system... I’m just trying to coach the team the way I see football, but it is going to evolve."

The vulnerability of the 3-4-2-1 was laid bare by Brentford boss Keith Andrews, who needed only a brief explanation to highlight United's core issue.

Andrews noted that his side successfully created midfield overloads, exploiting the numerical disadvantage faced by United's two central midfielders against a typical three-man unit.

This imbalance has allowed opponents to bypass the centre of the pitch and comfortably expose the back three.