In a recent interview, Ruben Amorim emphasized the need for Manchester United to maintain the level of performance they displayed in the second half of their 1-1 draw against Arsenal on March 9. He stressed the importance of having more possession and applying high pressure in key moments.
United struggled to show these qualities in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie against Real Sociedad, where they recorded only 44% possession—their lowest in the competition this season. Their passive approach nearly cost them, with Sociedad missing several late opportunities to win the match.
Concerns arose over how United would handle the return of key midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who was back in action for the second leg at Old Trafford after missing the first match due to illness. However, United responded with one of their best defensive displays under Amorim, securing a dominant 4-1 victory. Bruno Fernandes led the charge with a hat-trick, while Jon Aramburu’s red card in the 63rd minute further tilted the game in United’s favor. Zubimendi was restricted to just 19 first-half passes, with 11 of them occurring in his own half.
United’s plan to neutralize Zubimendi was evident early on. Rasmus Hojlund was tasked with shadowing him to limit his influence on Sociedad’s buildup. This approach was clear in the fifth minute when Sociedad recycled possession to goalkeeper Alex Remiro. With Hojlund marking Zubimendi, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho pressed the center-backs, while Patrick Dorgu and Casemiro were ready to push forward if necessary.
When Remiro played the ball to left-back Aihen Munoz, United’s wing-back Diogo Dalot stepped up aggressively. However, Sociedad exploited the space behind him with a one-two combination that freed Sheraldo Becker down the flank. Dalot was slow to recover, leading to a series of defensive errors that culminated in Matthijs de Ligt conceding a penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot to put Sociedad ahead.
Despite the early setback, United persisted with their pressing strategy, and it nearly paid off in the 13th minute. When Sociedad worked the ball to Munoz again, Dalot pushed forward. This time, Noussair Mazraoui won possession ahead of Becker, allowing United to transition quickly. Fernandes exchanged passes with Casemiro, who found Dalot overlapping. Dalot delivered a cross to Dorgu, who headed the ball across goal. Sociedad’s hurried clearance came back to Casemiro, who cleverly dragged Zubimendi out of position to create space for Fernandes. A pinpoint pass set up Fernandes, who squared the ball for Hojlund. The Danish striker was fouled by Igor Zubeldia, resulting in a penalty that leveled the score.
Fernandes’ goal gave United momentum, and they dominated possession for the next 15 minutes. During this phase, United showcased the tactical flexibility Amorim instills in his teams. While he often employs a 3-4-3 formation, his teams frequently adjust their defensive shape. In the 33rd minute, United adopted an aggressive 4-2-4 press that restricted Sociedad’s passing lanes. Forced into mistakes, Sociedad resorted to long balls, playing into United’s hands.
As Sociedad attempted to bypass United’s pressure, Hojlund directed Zirkzee and Garnacho on when to press Remiro, Sociedad’s goalkeeper. A well-timed press forced an errant pass that was intercepted by Dorgu. Recognizing Sociedad’s struggles, Amorim adjusted United’s press further. In the 35th minute, Garnacho was instructed to push wider, and Zirkzee was told to curve his pressing run rather than pressing in a straight line. This small tactical tweak disrupted Sociedad’s buildup even more.
Garnacho’s energetic pressing paid off as he intercepted a pass from Munoz, drawing loud cheers from the Old Trafford crowd—clear validation of Amorim’s pressing philosophy. The pressure forced Sociedad to alter their approach; after initially attempting to play out from the back, 17 of Remiro’s final 19 passes were long balls.
United’s defensive improvement was further highlighted early in the second half. With Sociedad trailing after Fernandes’ second penalty in the 50th minute, Zubimendi dropped deeper into a center-back role to gain more control. In response, United switched to a compact 4-4-2 formation, blocking passing lanes and limiting Sociedad’s ability to progress the ball.
United’s ability to execute Amorim’s pressing strategies effectively suggests they are beginning to internalize his philosophy. Fernandes acknowledged that the team is making significant progress, while Amorim himself stated that they “showed a little bit of the future” and successfully “dealt with the problems of the present” in what was a crucial week for the club.