Amad issues Man Utd farewell as Ruben Amorim breaks promise in Old Trafford chaos

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Manchester United pair Amad and Bryan Mbeumo signed off before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations with very different nights in the 4-4 thriller against Bournemouth. United boss Ruben Amorim may have been hoping for a simple home win before losing the trio - and defender Noussair Mazraoui - to the tournament in Morocco, but what he got was something far more bombastic.

Three times United led at Old Trafford against Andoni Iraola's men. Having led 2-1 at half-time they fell behind within five minutes of the second half starting and their 41 year record of not losing a home game having been in front at the break looked in serious danger. Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha put them in front, before Junior Kroupi equalised for the Cherries who were then denied a famous victory in extra-time by two stellar Senne Lammens saves.

Amad struck the opening goal for United on the night, being in the right place at the right time to turn home into an empty net from close range. Unfortunately for the 23 year-old, his attempted challenge inadvertently played the ball to Kroupi for Bournemouth's late leveller.

But in between, he was perhaps the biggest personification of Amorim loosening the shackles on his side. From his now familiar position of wing-back, the Ivory Coast international flew forward with abandon, teasing and troubling the Bournemouth backline and looking threatening throughout a first period where United largely dominated, created chances and looked likely winners.

In the second period, as United chased the game and Amorim changed to a back four, Amad was pushed higher, into the right-wing position he perhaps craves more than anything else as United moved into something more akin to a 4-2-4, Mbeumo partnering a returning Benjamin Sesko in attack and Matheus Cunha operating from the left.

Asked about the formation post-match, Amad admitted: “We work depending on the opponent, when sometimes we play as a 4-4-2, sometimes we play as a 3-4-3, sometimes also we play 4-3-3, maybe people outside don’t see. As a team, we can change.

“But the system doesn't matter for us. Today, [the focus] was to win this game, so we are really disappointed. You can see straight away in the dressing room, everyone was very disappointed because we know as a team, we can do much better."

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Cunha, who scored United's fourth, was arguably the man of the match, with his running power and ability to drive through the thirds. But it was Amad to whom United consistently turned to create chances, with his trickery causing Bournemouth untold troubles whether United were in front or behind from that right side. He was at the top of his game and losing his talent to AFCON is problematic.

Losing Mbeumo, who has shone since his £71million move from Brentford, is also a problem. But the Cameroon international was well below his best, a rushed thrash from eight yards that saw the ball rocket into the Stretford End rather than the back of the net summing up his night.

It wasn't a surprise to see him hooked late on when Joshua Zirkzee was called upon.

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Regardless of Mbeumo's individual failures, Amorim's tactical change - going to a back four, moving Mbeumo centrally and pushing Amad higher - caused Bournemouth problems. United fans chanted "attack, attack" and Amorim gave them what they wanted. Iraola admitted his side "suffered" while Amorim, when asked whether United were playing with four at the back at times, said: "That is for you to discuss, not for me. I know you guys know we trained this week with a back four."

In September, after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City , Amorim claimed he would not change his philosophy and that "if they [United hierarchy] want it changed, you change the man." But perhaps that promise has now been broken. Because this United looked far different from the usually prosaic, tightly-wound group we usually see for whom the system has been king these past 13 months.

In that same press conference as Amorim stood defiant when his 3-4-3 formation was questioned, he also insisted: "I will play my way until I want to change. "

That time may well have arrived. Unfortunately, if indeed it has, he must find a way to make it work without his flexible friend, Amad, for the next month.

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