Ruben Amorim met the media on Friday for the first time since becoming Manchester United&#8217;s head coach &#8211; but what can FPL managers learn from his comments ahead of the FPL Gameweek 12 deadline?
There is plenty of buzz around the appointment of the former Sporting boss, with the highly rated Portuguese coach taking over from Erik ten Hag.
United impressed under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy in Gameweek 10 and 11. Bruno Fernandes earned 27 FPL points over their two games.
But here&#8217;s what fantasy fans can expect when the Red Devils take to the pitch against Ipswich on Sunday.
Check out more of our award-winning FPL content in our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate Guide to Gameweek 12</a>.

👉<a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">Join the Hub &#8211; Green Friday offer</a> 👈

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/my-team/transfers">AI-recommended transfers for your FPL team</a> 🤖</li>
</ul>
<h2>What did Amorim say in his first press conference?</h2>
Much of Amorim&#8217;s first press conference was not that useful from a fantasy perspective, with journalists covering a variety of general topics.
One of the closing questions however focused on potential roles for certain players, including the idea of Alejandro Garnacho as a wing-back.
This is one of several suggestions pundits have put forward to fit the winger into Amorim&#8217;s trademark 3-4-3, which typically sees the wing-backs generating the width instead of the forwards.
But for now at least, it looks like the conventional full-backs will have the upper hand here. Amorim said:
<blockquote>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to say too much but you have to use both [full-backs and wingers] because you have different games.
&#8220;We should start with full-backs, because to teach a winger to defend is harder.&#8221;</blockquote>
<div id="attachment_68668" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68668" class="size-full wp-image-68668" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amorim.jpg" alt="Ruben Amorim. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amorim.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amorim-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amorim-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amorim-610x407.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Ruben Amorim. Picture by Getty Images</div>
&nbsp;
Amorim noted the lack of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq89H0BEc_0">training time</a> with the squad in an interview on Sky Sports with Gary Neville.
The games come thick and fast for United in the coming weeks, leaving limited time for player development.
The 39-year-old did however note that the basic principles were the &#8216;same&#8217; in numerous systems, backing his players to adapt despite the challenges:
<blockquote>&#8220;Of course you don&#8217;t have time to train and it is a new system but imagine you have a [back] line of five or four, the principles are the same.
&#8220;If you want to press with one and do a second line, you can do a second line with three guys or four guys so I think it&#8217;s more than a system, it&#8217;s a principle you have to teach.&#8221;</blockquote>
<h2>Manchester United team news for FPL Gameweek 12</h2>
There was no team news in the non-embargoed section of the press conference but Amorim later gave updates to club media.
Luke Shaw returned to training during the international break, however he is expected to have his minutes managed as he builds up fitness.
Leny Yoro and Kobbie Mainoo were also among the returnees and could be in contention for a start on Sunday, although they too may be slowly eased back.
<div id="attachment_65455" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65455" class="size-full wp-image-65455" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leny-Yoro.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="679" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leny-Yoro.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leny-Yoro-300x199.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leny-Yoro-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leny-Yoro-610x404.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Leny Yoro. Picture by Getty Images</div>
&nbsp;
Discussing player fitness, Amorim said:
<blockquote>&#8220;We have to see &#8211; we have one more training.
&#8220;But Luke [Shaw], for example, is feeling fine, but we have to build his fitness during games, so we have to be careful. I think he’s a very good player, so I will take care of him and I want these kinds of players that are important in our squad for a long period and not just for a game.
“We have some guys returning from injury, so we had some moments together, working in that indoor pitch [on] tactical work.
&#8220;We have to manage the load during this week with some players from national teams [as well], but we are ready to face Ipswich.&#8221;</blockquote>
Elsewhere, Fernandes returned to the club ahead of schedule after missing Portugal&#8217;s second match of the break due to suspension.
Lisandro Martinez was sent home by Argentina with a back issue, although he is expected to be ready for the weekend.
Amad Diallo also stayed at the club following a knock in Gameweek 11 and could benefit from the extra time working with the Red Devils&#8217; new coaching team.
<div id="attachment_68669" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68669" class="size-full wp-image-68669" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amad.jpg" alt="Amad Diallo" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amad.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amad-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amad-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Amad-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Amad Diallo</div>
<h2>Manchester United predicted lineup for FPL Gameweek 12</h2>
<h3>Clues from training</h3>
United released a <a href="https://x.com/MarcusKnowsBall/status/1858635426036412818">video</a> of Amorim&#8217;s first full training session earlier this week.
Several players were absent because of international duty, so a lineup trialled in the footage should not be taken as the starting 11 to face Ipswich.
It did though highlight that Amorim is likely to carry on his 3-4-3 set up, with the outfield players lined up like so:
Yoro &#8211; Evans &#8211; Shaw 
Antony &#8211; Casemiro &#8211; Mainoo &#8211; Malacia 
Amad &#8211; Rashford &#8211; Mount
Antony operating as the right wing-back was an interesting highlight, although given Amorim&#8217;s comments it seems unlikely that the Brazilian will feature here in an actual game for now.
Marcus Rashford could feasibly start up front, being one of the players with an advantage of not having featured for their countries.
<div id="attachment_68670" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68670" class="size-full wp-image-68670" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rashford-gw1-11.jpg" alt="Marcus Rashford's stats" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rashford-gw1-11.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rashford-gw1-11-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rashford-gw1-11-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rashford-gw1-11-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Marcus Rashford&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Possible starting 11</h3>
Our predicted lineup represents a mix of players who have had plenty of training time and United&#8217;s usual regulars.
Places are certainly up for grabs &#8211; and if Rashford starts up top, it could be Rasmus Hojlund who misses out against Ipswich, perhaps in favour of Amad over Garnacho, who has been away with Argentina.
Mason Mount is a dark horse to feature &#8211; and quotes overnight from Amorim showed how much he values the former Chelsea player:
<blockquote>&#8220;He played in this system [before], so it&#8217;s perfect for him&#8230;I have two positions for Mason Mount, so he should be very happy.&#8221;</blockquote>
We&#8217;re backing Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui to occupy the wing-back spots based on Amorim&#8217;s comments.
Yoro was set to feature in an Under-21s fixture on Tuesday but was removed from the squad, possibly indicating he is in contention to make his competitive debut.
The absence of Harry Maguire strengthens his cause, as does Victor Lindelof having to be helped off the pitch while playing for Sweden.
Jonny Evans would join Martinez and Matthijs De Ligt if Yoro is not risked.
Mainoo could edge out Casemiro if he proves his fitness.
<div id="attachment_68652" style="width: 460px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68652" class="size-full wp-image-68652" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/United-lineup-GW12.jpg" alt="Manchester United predicted lineup" width="450" height="642" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/United-lineup-GW12.jpg 450w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/United-lineup-GW12-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />Manchester United predicted lineup</div>
<h2>Should FPL managers buy Manchester United players in Gameweek 12?</h2>
United&#8217;s next two fixtures &#8211; Ipswich (A) and Everton (H) &#8211; rank the easiest in the league according to the Hub&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker">fixture ticker</a>.
But with much uncertainty surrounding Amorim&#8217;s first team and how the players will adapt to his tactics, FPL managers should not rush to buy United assets.
The one exception is Bruno Fernandes, who is expected to play a major role in United&#8217;s attack.
It&#8217;s hard not to see Fernandes starting and occupying one of the forward spots, although there is a small chance of him playing further back alongside Manuel Ugarte.
Amorim&#8217;s men have a tougher time beyond Gameweek 13, with tests including Arsenal (A) and Manchester City (A).
Those looking to buy Fernandes &#8211; <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-price-rises">who could rise in price overnight</a> &#8211; may not wish to wait as a result.
In the case of the other United players, the sensible play is to wait and see how they fit in &#8211; with Gameweek 17 against Bournemouth (H) an alternative hop-on point.
Anyone who owns the likes of Garnacho could hold them for now given the strength of the upcoming games.
Garnacho has shown he can score points in limited minutes, with three league attacking returns after coming off the bench this season.
<div id="attachment_68599" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68599" class="size-full wp-image-68599" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FFStuffImage-2024-11-21T203113.223.jpg" alt="" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FFStuffImage-2024-11-21T203113.223.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FFStuffImage-2024-11-21T203113.223-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FFStuffImage-2024-11-21T203113.223-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FFStuffImage-2024-11-21T203113.223-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Bruno Fernandes&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Follow the Hub</h3>
<a href="https://twitter.com/FFH_HQ">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ffootballhub/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/FantasyFootballHub/?sub_confirmation=1">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/FFH_HQ/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ffh_hq">Tiktok</a> 
And view all our latest fantasy football tips on our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/" aria-label="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/">Homepage</a>

How will Manchester United set up in Ruben Amorim’s first game?

Save your FPL Season

Community & tools

Fixture ticker