One of the biggest talking points in the build up to the FA Cup final was about what Manchester United’s front three was going to look like.
United had brought the Premier League season to a close at Brighton & Hove Albion six days earlier without a recognised centre-forward on the pitch from the start. Rasmus Hojlund started on the bench for the second game running, leaving Bruno Fernandes to lead the attack as a false-nine.
Hojlund, however, stepped off the bench against both Newcastle United and Brighton to score, strengthening his chances of a recall for the final at Wembley against Manchester City. Against both Newcastle and Brighton, Erik ten Hag fielded an attack that relied on Alejandro Garnacho and Amad to support Fernandes from the wide areas.
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Amad ended the Premier League campaign as one of United’s most in-form players. He was excellent in the narrow defeat to Arsenal, before scoring against Newcastle a few days later.
He had played his way into contention to start the showpiece event at Wembley and many United fans felt his performances were worthy of that honour. However, Ten Hag, who got his tactical approach spot on against City, felt experience was key for a game of such magnitude, recalling Marcus Rashford to the starting XI.
He started in his natural habitat on the left-wing, supporting Fernandes, who kept his place as a makeshift striker. Garnacho provided support from the opposite flank, meaning Amad and Hojlund watched from the bench.
Of course, ahead of this forthcoming season, Hojlund is expected to lead United’s attack and attempt to build on last season’s tally of 16 goals. United want to add Joshua Zirkzee to their ranks, but Hojlund is expected to remain chief striker.
There are, however, question marks about who may support Hojlund from the wide areas. The Reds are currently knee-deep in wingers, both on the right and the left, and they need to cut their cloth before the end of the transfer window.
Antony, despite his struggles over the last two years, is still in situ and will be of the opinion he should get another opportunity to make a name for himself at Old Trafford, but Garnacho and Amad ended last season ahead of him in the pecking order. Garnacho was United’s best winger last season by some distance.
Garnacho, who could feature for Argentina in the Copa America final against Colombia, displayed in the second half of last term that he is just as fruitful on the right as he is on the left. Many will argue he should be United’s starting right-winger this season.
However, his main position could be dictated by the form and possibly the future of Rashford. United are yet to rule out the prospect of the academy graduate leaving the club this summer, despite their preference being to keep him.
The 26-year-old scored just eight goals last season, leaving supporters frustrated and some calling for him to be sold as part of Ineos’ summer rebuild. In the event of him being retained, however, his form could dictate the roles both Garnacho and Amad have to play.
Garnacho, regardless of Rashford’s future or form, should be a regular starter for United after the progress he made last season. The latter, though, could dictate which flank he is assigned to.
If Rashford rediscovers the level of form he produced in 2022/23, he will make the left-wing his own again, meaning Garnacho will have to weave his magic from the opposite side. But in the event of him stuttering in the same way he did last season, Ten Hag might be brave enough to drop the academy graduate to the bench, deploy Garnacho from the left and give Amad the opportunity to try and finally establish himself as a first-team regular.
The Ivorian played an incredibly patient game last season after overcoming a pre-season injury and it looked as though a meaningful opportunity would never present itself. When it finally did, he took it, giving United something different that had been missing in attack.
Only turning 22 today (Thursday), the winger’s best is still to come, and an injury-free pre-season could open up an avenue of opportunity come the start of the season. If he grasps it, he will have every intention of exceeding last season’s appearance tally of 12.
Nevertheless, Rashford’s form and future could have a decisive say in how big a role he plays. The latter holds the key to so much.