'Pragmatic' - Andre Onana sends message to Ruben Amorim over Manchester United formation switch

Andre Onana believes Manchester United can adapt to a back three if incoming head coach Ruben Amorim opts to bring his successful Sporting strategy to Old Trafford.

United's goalkeeper watched Sporting dismantle Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and it was another positive night for Amorim in what was his final home game in charge of the side he has guided to the Portuguese title on two occasions.

Amorim favours a back three with wing backs and his system worked superbly on Tuesday, with Pep Guardiola's side unable to live with the pace and precision of Sporting's rapid counterattacks.

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There has been a suggestion that United don't have the squad to allow Amorim to bring that system to his new club, but Onana is confident that isn't the case and insists the players can adapt to a new style under the 39-year-old.

"I did watch it. Great victory for them, by the way," Onana said. "Different system, but my teammates we are all pragmatic, everyone here is capable of playing in each system, I don’t think it will be an issue for us. We have big players. They will step up."

Onana also opened up on the decision to sack Erik ten Hag 10 days ago. The Dutchman brought Onana to Old Trafford, having worked with him at Ajax.

The £47million goalkeeper was sad to see Ten Hag leave but accepted results hadn't been good enough and that the manager would always end up paying the price.

"When I heard he was leaving I felt bad, it’s not always easy for players to understand when a manager is leaving. But at the end of the day, the club have to make a decision and we have to follow," he said.

"I worked with him, he’s a good manager, I’ve got a very good relationship with him. Why things didn’t work here? We didn’t win enough games, it’s simple. At high level it’s not easy and sometimes you have to pay the price. Unfortunately it was him.

"The players gave everything, we worked hard, tried our best but it just didn’t work."