Xiaoba Yiyanjia|Reshape the front line for more than 200 million yuan, can the Red Devils new trident really create a spark of passion

With the joining of Cesco, Manchester United has invested more than 200 million pounds in the transfer period this summer to build a brand new front line. So can this new Red Devils forward line composed of Sesco, Cunya and Mbemo "make sparks" in Amorin's tactical system? The Athletic author Conor O 'Neill made an analysis.

Good things come to three - at least Manchester United coach Amorin hopes so. He introduced three attackers in one breath this summer, intending to completely reorganize the front line. Cunya and Mbemo have joined earlier in the summer window, and Leipzig striker Sesco has also successfully made a comeback. So far, Manchester United has spent more than 200 million pounds in the transfer window this summer to create a brand new front line.

Manchester United fans are naturally full of expectations for this.

The defense line was full of loopholes last season, although it was eye-catching, but looking back at the situation of the Red Devils in the past 10 years, they have also conceded three times in the Premier League, even exceeding this number, but in the end they still won the sixth place. To be honest, what really drags down Manchester United today is the bumpy attack. Manchester United scored only 44 goals in the Premier League last season, setting a record low of 33 years in the Premier League.

The front line reorganization is imperative, but the key is: Can this new trident composed of Cunia, Mbemo and Sesco spark a spark in Amorin's system?

Predicting players' performance after changing teams is full of variables, and it is even more difficult to evaluate the chemical reaction of a brand new front line. However, the role positioning and on-field performance of these three players in recent seasons have sent a positive signal - they are expected to complement each other and even achieve each other.

The most basic adaptability depends on location: will they block each other's path? It is still unknown what formation Amorin will eventually rank (Sesco just joined, and Mbemo and Cunia only played side by side for 45 minutes in the preseason against Everton), but on paper, the three players are quite compatible. Observing the hot spots of touch last season, you will find that Mbemo obviously prefers the right side, Cunia is accustomed to cutting in from the left rather than holding the sideline, while Sesco mainly moves in the middle. This means that Manchester United can completely let the three of them perform their duties.

The three new players in Manchester United's wind front line are hot maps last season, however, putting three good players into their respective comfort zones does not mean that chemical reactions can be produced. The real test lies in the linkage effect: is the type that the center forward likes to look for? Can they send the forwards’ most wanted pass? Can the three of them be in a consistent manner when they are oppressed?

The technical characteristics of Cunya and Mbemo are almost mirrored and naturally adapted. Both are good at using sharp straight passes and strong advancements to drive the team - this is exactly the attacking attributes that Manchester United lacked last season (see the picture below). Cunha has another key plus point: he played No. 10 on the left in the Wolves 3-4-2-1 system, and this is the tactical framework Amorin insisted on at Manchester United.

Cunya and Mbemo are both attackers with good passes and breakthrough abilities

So, the real suspense is: how do these two wingers connect with Sesco?

The uncertainty is partly due to the fact that the 22-year-old Slovenian international is still inexperienced, and he has experienced two seasons in Leipzig, making people unable to understand his true style. When he entered the Bundesliga in the early summer of 2023, he was used as a classic penalty area killer - nailed behind the defense line, with the touch point highly concentrated in the offensive third zone. But last season, Leipzig dived in form and had a constipation in offense, and his creativity conveyor line was paralyzed, and Sesco was forced to frequently retreat to catch the ball.

To determine whether he can integrate into the Manchester United puzzle, you might as well observe from three dimensions: the characteristics of Cunya and Mbemo's past partnering centers, Amorin's requirements for centers, and the degree to which Sesco matches these requirements.

Interestingly, despite the similar styles, Mbemo and Cunya actually have slightly different needs for centers. Mbemo's tacit understanding with Visa at Brentford last season was far superior to Cunha and Wolves teammate Larson - the former cooperated 166 times, while the latter only had 80 times (but the Wolves combination is the first time). For the Cameroon international, Visa is worth much more than passing cooperation. His tireless running without the ball can always tear up space cleverly. A typical scene is that Visa takes the edge or runs back away from the defender, and Mbemo takes the opportunity to cut inside and shoot the net with his left foot - this has become a symbolic image of Brightford last season.

In contrast, Mokunia needs Larson to retreat, use the Norwegian's large body to play quickly hitting the wall to help him cut in from the left and then penetrate directly into the edge of the penalty area. There are typical scenes in April when they beat Leicester City 3-0 at home.

, and Sesco's two seasons in Leipzig showed a willingness to retreat and connect the midfield.

SkillCorner tracking data shows that he ranked first in European forwards in both "retracement run" and "support support run" in the two Bundesliga seasons, which means he can provide Cunya and Mbemo with a fulcrum for quick short pass cooperation.

Cesco's unball running type distribution in the past two seasons

However, Amorin's core requirement for the center is to penetrate the long-distance sprint directly into the channel! This kind of running can pull the defense line open and create offensive space for the Double Ten position. Sesco has more sprints in his first season, but it has decreased as the entire Leipzig team declines. In contrast, Manchester United's current striker Hoylund has always insisted on this way of running, although he is often marginalized in the organizational link.

Manchester United is mainly engaged in slow propulsion under Amorin (only Manchester City's direct speed was slower than them last season), but sending a long pass to the center is still a key tactic. Hoylund's willingness to run is fine, the problem lies in the after receiving the ball: he is 1.91 meters tall and has a weak air combat rate of only 25% last season, almost at the bottom among European forwards.. Sesco, who is 1.95 meters tall, may run slightly inferior, but his ability to get the ball on his back is clearly shown in the chart below that his ability to control the airstrikes crushed Hoylund and Zilkze, who is also 1.91 meters tall. More importantly, Cesco successfully broke through every 90 minutes, which allowed him to withstand the defender after a long pass and wait for his teammates to press.

Cesco's breakthrough ability is stronger than that of Zilkze and Hoylen

It must be pointed out that Manchester United's current offensive system cannot support Haaland's "ghost in the penalty area" striker (swimming in the dangerous area waiting for a fatal blow). Their No. 9 must be carried on the dirty work and tiring work, and deeply participate in offense and defense. And a lot of evidence shows that Cesco definitely meets this requirement.

But perhaps the most exciting thing is his Haaland-like killer instinct: no matter what support you can always find and seize opportunities. Leipzig has been turbulent in two seasons, but he has scored double-digit goals. What's even more amazing is that the three new Manchester United players scored in double digits last season! Bringing this shooting boot to the new owner is the fastest way for them to establish tacit understanding and confidence.