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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly devised a fresh fix to resolve his side’s slow starts at Old Trafford – swapping ends.
United’s home form has been woeful all season, with the team especially struggling to score goals in the first half of matches.
Before last month’s 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, United had managed just one first-half goal in their previous seven home games—a Bruno Fernandes penalty against Brighton and Hove Albion. That spot-kick also stood as their only first-half goal across 17 consecutive matches in all competitions.
After Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, club legend Gary Neville claimed that the United players don’t like playing at Old Trafford.
The former defender insisted that Amorim’s men wither in front of their supporters as there’s an increased demand to come up with the goods.
In his post-match press conference, Amorim also acknowledged that there is a difficulty when playing at Old Trafford.
Now, Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic has revealed that United have attempted to improve their fortunes at the Theatre of Dreams by making teams swap ends at kick-off.
Traditionally, United warm up at the Stretford End and prefer to attack that end in the second half, aiming to finish matches on a strong note.
However, in the last three home games, Fernandes has won the pre-match coin toss and asked for the teams to swap ends, so he and his teammates attack the Stretford End during the opening 45 minutes.
According to Whitwell, “The chief instigator of the change is head coach Ruben Amorim, who has been alarmed at his side’s record at Old Trafford, especially in first halves, and is looking at ways of shifting momentum and starting games quicker.”
“United changing ends to start matches is seen by those in the team as a good way of disrupting the opposition as well as changing their own luck.”
As the report notes, the change seems to have sparked a reaction. United came back after Ipswich took the lead, scoring twice before the interval.
Fernandes also gave United the edge just before half-time on Sunday against Arsenal with a brilliant free-kick.
United will certainly be hoping for more luck on Thursday when they welcome Real Sociedad at Old Trafford for the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 fixture.
Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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