Sofyan Amrabat has returned to the starting 11 for tonight’s FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest but has not been granted the comforts of his favoured position.
Manchester United and Forest are yet to break the deadlock by the halfway stage at The City Ground, with both teams squandering numerous chances to take the lead. The winner of the tie will host either Liverpool or Southampton in the quarter-finals over the weekend of March 16/17.
Neither side have been playing their best football across the first 45 by any means, though a handful of Reds have come under fire for their lacklustre showings against the 17th-placed side.
Amrabat trying to persevere with positional change
On The Athletic’s live blog, Carl Anka commented on Amrabat’s struggles playing on the left side of defence. Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw are both unavailable, so Erik ten Hag is having to make do with makeshift left-backs.
Anka wrote: “The defensive midfielder is being asked to play at left-back tonight and understandably looks a little lost. The Moroccan, on loan from Fiorentina, is one of several United players who have worked with Ten Hag at previous clubs. It looks like Amrabat is attempting to invert into midfield when United cross the half-way line. Looks like…”
Forest writer Paul Taylor also highlighted how Amrabat was scrambling to keep on top of former Liverpool forward Divock Origi, adding: “Origi looks to have Sofyan Amrabat, who is playing at left-back for United, looking nervous when he runs at him.”
