Manchester United faced a challenging FA Cup defeat against Fulham on Sunday, enduring a demanding 120 minutes before succumbing in a penalty shootout at Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire expressed that he was “very tired” upon being substituted for Ayden Heaven, while his defensive partner Matthijs de Ligt appeared to be struggling to maintain his footing after an outstanding performance.
Ruben Amorim’s already thin squad has only three days to recuperate and prepare for their upcoming match on Thursday evening against Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
With Amorim unable to fully utilize his bench against Fulham, he will need to make adjustments to his lineup once more to ensure his players remain fit. A positional change for one player may be on the horizon.
Ruben Amorim could experiment with Noussair Mazraoui
Due to Patrick Dorgu’s suspension resulting from his red card, Noussair Mazraoui has resumed his position as the right wing-back.
Nonetheless, the £13 million summer acquisition by United has also excelled in the centre-back role this season. It is possible that he may soon be transitioned into a midfield position.
In anticipation of the upcoming match against Fulham, Amorim informed MUTV that Mazraoui could be regarded as a viable option for the midfield.
“He can play as a midfielder also. So I think nowadays when we have a lot of games, a lot of competition, to have players that can do different positions is really important,” Amorim said.
“And I think he’s going to improve in the future, but I think in this, you can say if you look to this season, he’s one of the best players in our squad, and he needs to continue.”
Erik ten Hag was ‘doomed’ after Noussair Mazraoui decision
Should Amorim choose to experiment with Mazraoui in a midfield position, he would become the second manager of United to do so this season.
In October, Mazraoui was deployed as a No.10 during a Europa League match against Fenerbahce. This decision came as Erik ten Hag sought a substitute for Bruno Fernandes after his red card, a choice that certainly attracted attention.
Ten Hag defended his decision to utilize Mazraoui in this role; however, the experiment was short-lived, as the summer signing reverted to his preferred right-back position in the second half. Reflecting on this choice, Ten Hag remarked that he was “doomed” to face dismissal after placing Mazraoui in the No.10 role.
In contrast, Amorim appears to be suggesting that Mazraoui may be utilized in a defensive midfield capacity within his 3-4-3 formation, rather than as an attacking midfielder.
While Mazraoui’s versatility is undoubtedly one of his assets, employing him in midfield should ideally be considered a last resort.