Manchester United’s strongest right flank also hides a vulnerability, with Amrabat admitting a problem! Could be exploited by opponents to cause mutual damage

Manchester United’s squad has consistently included “double-edged swords,” with captain Bruno Fernandes as a classic case. In the recent Premier League match, Amad Diallo demonstrated the same characteristic: a key offensive asset but also a defensive vulnerability exploited by Nottingham Forest.

Amad’s last-minute world-class strike leveled the score for Manchester United and almost clinched victory in stoppage time, yet the loss of their lead was partly due to him. Forest capitalized on his defensive weaknesses to score, and upcoming opponents Tottenham, Everton, and Crystal Palace may adopt similar tactics.

This is a limitation of Amrabat’s 3-4-3 formation; without an effective solution, Manchester United’s matches will struggle to be consistent. The team can only compete by outscoring opponents, just like in the game against Nottingham Forest.

Amrabat holds Amad in high regard, similar to how he used Giovanni Cucurella at Sporting Lisbon. This €40 million winger became the right wing-back in the new coach’s first game, assisting Rashford to score the first goal of the Amrabat era.

This season, Amad has featured in 9 Premier League matches, starting 8 times. Besides playing three times as a number 10, he has mostly operated as a right wing-back. In December last year, Amrabat asserted that Amad suits the wing-back role perfectly: “He excels there and can play between lines because of his strong ball control and apparently faster dribbling speed than off-ball speed. He can handle both roles and adapt to different systems. Wing-backs need good physicality—not necessarily height but speed, which is crucial. His technical traits fit this position very well.”

Amad possesses excellent pressing skills upfront, which helped the team score against clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Everton last season. However, he has weaknesses, especially in physical duels, exposed when competing for headers against English player Morgan Gibbs-White. Unfortunately, Amad’s partner Mbemou is also among the Premier League’s poorest in aerial duels, offering little support.

That wasn’t the only time Forest successfully breached his defense. Sean Dyche’s tactics clearly involved having Callum Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, and others repeatedly challenge Amad one-on-one. Premier League coaches are astute in exploiting opponents’ weaknesses. Previously, United’s right-back Wan-Bissaka was known for fierce tackles, but opponents abandoned attempts to get past him directly, instead crossing from the opposite side to exploit “Spider-Man’s” positional awareness and aerial weakness.

Amrabat acknowledges defensive vulnerabilities at Manchester United: “This is indeed a problem, especially considering the current league conditions. Teams that win often concede very few goals and rarely allow opponents many shots on target. Sometimes, scoring just one goal is enough to win. But I believe it’s more about team effort; we need to improve our defense and boost attacking intensity. Only when we are fully motivated can we defend effectively. Manchester United still has much work ahead; we cannot keep conceding so frequently and must improve.”

“Amad is a double-edged sword,” said former Wales captain Ashley Williams. “He’s selected for his attacking skills but can’t play as a number 10 because Mbemou and Cunha perform that role very well. So he’s deployed as a right wing-back, but that’s not his strong suit defensively. He’s eager and willing to fulfill his duties, but it’s not his strength. Putting Amad in central defense to contest headers is unrealistic, which has cost Manchester United goals.”

However, at the other end of the pitch, Amad can exact revenge on opponents. His stunning volley at the Etihad is just the latest highlight among many. As early as March 2024, he scored the winning goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup. Last season, he earned a penalty and then scored a decisive goal in the away match against Manchester City. Weeks later, he completed a hat-trick within 12 minutes at home to defeat Southampton.

Legend Rio Ferdinand believes people should appreciate Amad’s attacking contributions rather than focus on his flaws. “We get too caught up on what players can’t do,” Rio said. “Amad has contributed a lot offensively for Manchester United, showing great chemistry with Mbemou. He brings attacking firepower that troubles opposing full-backs, forcing defenders to chase him. That’s exactly what we want—to wear out the opposition. I think he’s a very talented player.”

But Ferdinand admits opponents will exploit this issue, especially since United’s other wing-back also has weaknesses. After Amad took over the right wing-back role, the original right-back Diogo Dalot replaced teammate Patrick Dogu on the left side in the starting lineup.

However, neither Dalot nor Dogu is efficient in attack or defense, especially lacking in assists. Liverpool legend Carragher said: “Amad’s defensive duties involve marking the opposition’s full-back and covering the far post. Offensively, he shifts up to a winger’s role. His style is clearly winger-like, whereas Dalot is different—better at winning headers but unable to dribble or cross effectively into the final third.”

Amrabat could try adjusting personnel to address the problem. If Maguire replaced Lenoy Joro in the starting eleven, United could improve aerial duels, but Joro’s mobility surpasses 32-year-old Maguire. The team could also press more proactively to reduce Amad’s defensive burden. Just like in the first half at Anfield, where Amad overwhelmed Liverpool’s Kirkos.

With the Premier League becoming increasingly competitive this season, featuring frequent long balls and aerial duels, Amad is likely to face more challenges ahead, especially as his weaknesses are widely known. Even bottom-placed Nottingham Forest can pose a real threat at home, so dominating every minute of every match is clearly unrealistic.

Amrabat insists on using the 3-4-3 formation in the Premier League, which inevitably forces Bruno Fernandes and Amad to play out of their natural positions. This Saturday, they will face Tottenham, whose coach Thomas Frank differs from Amrabat by favoring tactical adjustments. In the Championship, Frank played attacking football, but in the Premier League, his team is pragmatic, focusing on set pieces and counter-attacks. The duel between the two coaches will revolve around Amad’s zone—whether Manchester United can unleash his attacking power or Tottenham exploits his weaknesses may decide the match outcome.