Owen Hargreaves says Manchester United need ‘consistency’ to become great team, defends Ruben Amorim’s formation stance

Ruben Amorim’s team had embarked upon a five-match unbeaten run between October and November, which included notable victories against Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.

“That’s what great teams have, consistency and that’s what makes you ultimately champion eventually,” Hargreaves explained.

“I think you look at the great teams now, whether it was City or Liverpool, Arsenal at the moment, they’re consistent.

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He continued: “You rarely lose many games, and I think that’s been the biggest issue for now. They’ve got some highs, but more lows.

“I actually thought they played quite well at Spurs and then the game got away from them, and they found a way to make it 2-2.

“The Everton game I think is a blow to everyone, because they had 10 men for a long time, and didn’t really create much.

“I know they’ve (Everton) scored a world-class goal, but I think that would probably have upset everyone more because it felt like they (United) were getting a little bit more consistent.”

While it is often stated that formations in football are fluid, Amorim has attracted criticism for insisting upon his system.

The United boss has been aided by the summer acquisitions of Bryan Mbuemo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, making his side a stronger attacking force – evident as prior to the Everton defeat, they had scored 12 goals in their last five matches.

Hargreaves feels the backing given to Amorim in the summer shows trust in his leadership, but feels their shortcomings cannot solely lie with formations.

“He already said he’s not going to change, and they gave him the keys to the castle,” Hargreaves said.

“So it’s up to him. He’s in charge. And he’s already said he’s not going to change. Obviously, I think there’s little minor tweaks within there like you see him at times, and they did it really well against Brighton.

“As much as you say it’s a 3-4-3, Luke Shaw kept stepping into midfield and helping Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. And then you have three in centre midfield, essentially. Or I think Cunha was dropping in, and then you have that three.

“So a formation is just a starting point, it’s just a blueprint. Football, because of the ball, it’s not like NFL, where the ball stops all the time and you can call plays. It’s very fluid and the boys have to make decisions in real time.

“So I think that obviously the 3-4-3 gets a lot of talk. But actually, if you were to look at the average formation of the team at the end of the game, it probably wouldn’t be in that 3-4-3.”

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Amorim warned in the early weeks of his tenure that a “storm will come,” and their form in the following months proved his premonition correct, but Hargreaves feels that even Amorim probably did not predict the level turmoil he has faced at Old Trafford.

“It’s probably been way more turbulent than he would have anticipated,” Hargreaves said. “The one thing I would say is he’s a brilliant communicator.

“Obviously, the level of scrutiny is a lot higher than in Portugal and Sporting, but he had nothing but success at Sporting, and he turned that club around and won the league in dominant fashion.

“I think his first game against Ipswich (a 1-1 draw) probably would have surprised him a little, you know, away, small ground, and they can play, even though they don’t have the resources United have.

“So I think he would have learned a lot and he’ll be better for it, I think in another year’s time, if he’s given that time. I’m pretty sure if you had asked him he would have said he planned it going differently for himself and the club.”