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Manchester United suffered another disappointing 0-3 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, leaving them in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time.
Ruben Amorim’s tactical system has shown promise, as evidenced by the impressive Manchester derby victory, but the team lacks consistency due to a lack of suitable players.
The decision to substitute Manuel Ugarte in the second half allowed Bournemouth to gain momentum, highlighting the team’s struggles in key areas.
Amorim stated earlier that Diogo Dalot is better suited to the right wingback position, rather than his current role on the left due to injuries.
Dalot’s performance against Cherries was lacking
On Sunday, the coach decided to start Tyrell Malacia on the left to give Dalot a chance to perform in his preferred position.
Dalot’s performance on the right was underwhelming, and he failed to make an impact when shifted back to the left side.
His passing accuracy was only 75 percent, a poor statistic for a wingback who struggled to contribute offensively.
He did not record any crosses, dribbles, and lost possession 13 times during the game (source: sofascore).
Compared to last season, Dalot’s attacking output has significantly decreased this season, with zero goals and fewer assists.
Dalot needs a break
Defensively, he also struggled, winning no ground duels and being dribbled past once. He did manage a couple of clearances and one interception.
For Amorim’s system to be effective, players who can both attack and defend well are essential, but Dalot has fallen short in both areas this season.
Many have highlighted the need for Dalot to receive some rest to improve his performances, but until United can find a suitable replacement, he is likely to continue on the left side with Luke Shaw injured and Malacia out of form.
Amorim will ideally want wingers rather than full-backs in that position, and reinforcements may be necessary in January to address this issue.
Featured image by Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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