""We know how they defend and we know they like to squeeze from the back five. And if you don't give bodies for them to squeeze from the back five you can create superiority in the middle," he said. "We know they play two in the middle. We tried to overload with our three plus Alex [Iwobi]. It was as simple as that.""
"This is telling. We know Ruben Amorim is fairly strict to his team's shape, a 3-4-3 with wing-backs that can also be interpreted as a 5-2-3, only veering away occasionally to a counter-attacking 5-4-1 against dominant opponents. Against the 5-2-3, Fulham pushed Ryan Sessegnon and Timothy Castagne high to pin back the United wing-backs. United tried to press high and did this in a shape which left big spaces between their defence, midfield and attack."
Fulham altered positioning to disrupt Manchester United's back-five press and generate midfield superiority. Fulham pushed Ryan Sessegnon and Timothy Castagne high to pin back United's wing-backs while other attackers were instructed to drop deep. Ruben Amorim's team operated in a disciplined 3-4-3 that could be read as a 5-2-3, occasionally shifting to a 5-4-1 against stronger opponents. United attempted a high press but did so in a shape that left large gaps between defence, midfield and attack. When United's centre-backs hesitated to step out, Fulham midfielders occupied central spaces and created numerical advantage.
Read at www.bbc.com
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