Julian Nagelsmann’s 4-2-3-1 Man Utd lineup would keep Bruno Fernandes as the number 10 and ask Mainoo and Tielemans to build from deep, with full-backs who push high. BBC Sport reports that United look increasingly likely to sack head coach Michael Carrick and that the club sounded out Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe in October, but the club haven’t announced a decision and nothing is confirmed.

Nagelsmann’s predicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1)

This is a prediction, not a leak. It starts from the team United played against Aston Villa on 8 November, official Fantasy Premier League injury and minutes data, and how Nagelsmann’s Germany played. The first game a new head coach could take charge of is Liverpool away on Sunday 22 November at 4.30pm UK time, and new managers rarely change the names overnight. The shape around them changes first.

Why Nagelsmann’s Man Utd XI looks like this

Lammens starts because he is the only United keeper with league minutes, 900 in official Fantasy Premier League data, even though BBC Sport rated him 4 against Villa. The back four is where this XI differs from Howe’s and Pochettino’s. Mazraoui and Dorgu are the full-backs because Nagelsmann’s Germany asked theirs to join attacks. Mazraoui started against Villa and BBC Sport wrote that he had been asked to push forward. Dorgu, who came on in the 66th minute, scored the 96th-minute equaliser and set up another goal, so he has earned a start on the left. Yoro and Martinez are the centre-backs: Martinez is fit and has 582 league minutes, and Maguire, who went off at half-time against Villa after being a doubt, is the first reserve. Dalot, rated 4 by BBC Sport, drops to the bench.

Mainoo and Tielemans form the pair in front of them. Mainoo played a chipped pass over the Villa defence that nearly released Amad, and Tielemans scored his first United goal in that game. Our reading is that Mainoo is the one who drops between the centre-backs when United have the ball, so the full-backs can advance. Andrey Santos is the alternative if either struggles.

Fernandes plays as the advanced playmaker, with Cunha, the man BBC Sport called “United’s most dangerous attacker” against Villa, coming in from the left to find space between the lines. Mbeumo works on the right, as he did in the first half on Sunday. Zirkzee leads the line because Sesko has a shin injury, which is covered on the Sesko injury page. Zirkzee has played only 89 league minutes, so striker is the weakest position in the XI.

How Nagelsmann sets up and what could go wrong

Attacking Football’s tactical preview before Euro 2024, republished by Yahoo Sports, said Germany under Nagelsmann often used a 4-2-3-1, with 3-2-5, 3-1-6 or 3-1-5-1 shapes in possession. It described Kimmich at right-back and Mittelstädt as a full-back on the left, with the full-backs pushing high and leaving space behind them for quick opponents. Out of possession Germany pressed from a high-to-medium 4-4-2 block, according to the same preview.

That is the risk at United. A side that has conceded 19 league goals, a total only Crystal Palace and Ipswich exceed, according to BBC Sport, would be asked to leave space behind its full-backs. The attacking half of the plan suits Fernandes and Cunha better than the defending half suits the back four.

Nagelsmann has been out of work since 3 July, when the German FA announced he had left after Germany lost to Paraguay in the World Cup last 32. Sports Mole gave his record as 37 games, 23 wins, 7 draws and 7 defeats, and said the match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes before Germany lost 4-3 on penalties. His contract had run until the 2028 European Championship, Al Jazeera reported. He has no club to buy him out of, but whether he wants the job hasn’t been reported.

What happens next

BBC Sport says the board have made no final decision and that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are expected to make a recommendation to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers. It also reports that Conte is known to be keen and that Pochettino is open to a move, which the Pochettino lineup covers. After Liverpool, United host Brentford on Saturday 28 November at 3pm and visit Newcastle on Wednesday 2 December at 8.15pm.

FAQ

Is Carrick being sacked? BBC Sport reports that United look increasingly likely to sack him, but the club haven’t confirmed a decision.

Will Nagelsmann be the next Man Utd manager? No appointment has been made. BBC Sport reports that United sounded out Nagelsmann and Howe in October.

What formation does Nagelsmann play? His Germany often used a 4-2-3-1 and changed shape in possession, so a 4-2-3-1 at United is a prediction based on that.