Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker discusses Ruben Amorim’s wing-back options | OneFootball

Life as Manchester United head coach is proving a challenge for Ruben Amorim who has struggled to get his methods across to his underperforming stars since his arrival in Manchester.

The Portuguese head coach is unwavering in his belief that his three at the back formation will be a success at Old Trafford but does need to see improvements in the team’s performance in the system.

Wing-backs play a key role in what Amorim is trying to produce and unfortunately for the former Sporting coach, his current crop are enduring a mixed a bag when it comes to adopting the position.

Former United defender Paul Parker has first hand experience when it comes to the fine details of playing in the specialist position and spoke exclusively to The Peoples Person courtesy of Instant Casino on Amorim’s options for the role.

“When you’ve got a full-back who is playing as a wing back, which I did for five games during the World Cup for the first time, I’m more defensive orientated so that’s going to be my first priority,” he explained.

“That can been seen as negative, so Amorim, in my opinion, will look for wing-backs because everything suggests their better performances have been with more attacking based players.”

Parker singled out Amad Diallo as the one player he feels has taken on the role with the most success due to the attacking nature of his game but also the willingness to put a shift in going the other way.

“His system works better with wing backs who are wingers. Wingers who are disciplined to be able to do a job going back.

I don’t mean tracking all the way back. You see how Amad Diallo has got it straight away. And he can do both because he sees it as part of his job and what he should be doing to help his mates out,” said Parker.

With Amad being Parker’s preferred choice on the right, he is now excited to see how new signing Patrick Dorgu adapts to life at Old Trafford given that he is a natural left sided player.

“He (Amorim) can definitely improve on the left hand side, the right side with Amad has been going quite well and that can only improve if he can add the players he desires to that team,” Parker said.

“The left side definitely needs somebody more attacking based. The new lad (Dorgu) could be that player if he’s allowed to play in the position that suits him. A left footed player on the left hand side with the ability to go round the outside rather than inside.”

The former England man believes Dorgu would give the team a “better balance”, with his natural instinct being to go down the left flank and open the game up instead of turning into traffic in the middle of the park.

Parker concluded by saying he wants to see United’s wing-backs get more crosses into the box.

“It would be nice to have someone to try and get to the byline and deliver a ball. Nottingham Forest are a team that excite people because the cross the ball, they don’t dribble across the box and try and bend the ball in the far corner every time,” he said.

Despite winning six of their eight games in 2025, United’s performance levels haven’t been up to scratch in the main and the Old Trafford crowd have been left feeling short-changed by the lack of attacking threat their side is showing.

No doubt Amorim will be keen to add to his numbers in the summer and will be hoping his current set of players can get him to the end of the season with enough credit in the bank to be trusted with whatever funds are available for the closed season market. Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social