What Ruben Amorim is demanding from one Man Utd attacker is essential for his system, he wants to see three things

Ruben Amorim told his Manchester United players to “play” to their “strengths” and one Red Devils star revealed what he is “trying” to do on the pitch.

The 40-year-old Manchester United manager has seen both the highs and the lows during his early reign at Old Trafford after his arrival from Sporting CP in 2024.

Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent head coach at United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era after he succeeded Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.

Erik ten Hag was sacked as United manager last October after a poor start to the season and Ruud van Nistelrooy took over as interim manager for four matches.

Amorim has wasted no time imprinting his philosophy on the United first-team squad, including a radical shake-up to the football at Old Trafford.

The former Sporting CP boss has shifted United’s playing style and Amorim’s tactical system has seen the Red Devils play with a three-man backline in matches.

Amorim’s tactics, which he used to incredible effect at Sporting CP, have drawn criticism since his arrival amid United’s sporadic form in the 2024-25 season.

READ MORE: Rasmus Hojlund tells Man Utd fans not to underestimate Ruben Amorim’s ‘lovely lad,’ he is adapting to ‘different sort of role’

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Rasmus Hojlund reveals his three functions as Man Utd striker in Ruben Amorim’s tactical system

Despite the discourse around his tactical system, Ruben Amorim has stuck with his principles and continued to play with his 3-4-2-1 formation at Manchester United.

Rasmus Hojlund has struggled at Old Trafford in the 2024-25 campaign, despite United manager Amorim preferring him as his main striking option.

The 22-year-old Denmark striker was on a 21-match goalscoring drought before he finally found the back of the net in United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday.

Hojlund had not scored in 2025 until the Danish forward broke the deadlock in the Premier League clash between United and Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Speaking after the result, the struggling United striker revealed the three things that he needs to do as the lone striker in Amorim’s system for the Red Devils.

“I think we’re starting to get a bit more connection between myself and the players, and then starting to understand what my qualities are even more, and playing to them as well,” he told The National.

“I’m developing and beginning to understand their qualities as well, and that’s what the manager wants. He wants us to play to our strengths, and now we’re starting to find each other even better.

“He [Amorim] wants me to stretch the pitch, that’s obvious, and get me into the channels and keep the centre-backs occupied. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

READ MORE: Rasmus Hojlund told 11-word message by former Man Utd star after breaking 21-match goalscoring drought vs Leicester City

Ruben Amorim reacted to Rasmus Hojlund’s Man Utd performance vs Leicester City

Speaking after United’s victory over Leicester City, Amorim was impressed with the finish that Rasmus Hojlund produced in the first half at the King Power Stadium.

“It is a difficult goal, a difficult control [with] the right foot,” he said.

“So, it’s a shame we are going to stop for [the] national teams. But he will return with confidence.

“It’s [also] just one win away and we have to continue when we return.”

United played their final match in March on Sunday ahead of the international break starting and the Red Devils are 13th in the Premier League table under Amorim.

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