Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has suggested that a midfield diamond will not work for the Red Devils on a consistent basis due to their issues in the full-back positions.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had success with a diamond against RB Leipzig in the Champions League last week, but the midfield struggled to impress against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, with the Gunners running out 1-0 winners at Old Trafford courtesy of a penalty from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Neville, speaking after the match, has claimed that the struggles of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw going forward means that the formation might not work for the 20-time English champions.
"Wan-Bissaka's already a bit awkward on the ball at right-back so you need someone to balance it and the balance on the right is a real problem for United. When [Mason] Greenwood went off it was even worse. They wanted Jadon Sancho obviously to play on that side and it looks like a real bad error in not getting that position recruited," Neville told Sky Sports News.
"Changing systems, players - having plenty in one position and not enough in others - is a real problem. Manchester United's full-backs aren't the best attacking full-backs in the world - Luke Shaw's ok going forward; he gives a bit of balance - but you're playing a diamond and your width's coming from players who don't really play that position well in terms of being high and wide. It's all looking a bit scruffy and towards the end, I'm not sure what shape United were playing."
United have collected just seven points from their first six Premier League matches of the season and currently sit 15th in the table ahead of a trip to Everton next weekend.
Matt Law
