Ruben Amorim’s Set-Piece Revolution Transforms Man United’s Dead-Ball Fortunes

Manchester United’s transformation under Ruben Amorim has been nothing short of remarkable in one specific area that was previously their Achilles heel. The Red Devils have evolved from being the Premier League’s most toothless team at set-pieces to joint leaders in dead-ball scoring this season, matching Arsenal’s tally of 10 goals despite the Gunners being widely celebrated for their prowess in this department.

When United struck twice from free-kicks during their comeback victory over Crystal Palace on December 1, it brought sudden attention to a dramatic shift in their attacking efficiency from set-pieces. Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and even Palace themselves have long been praised for their work at dead-ball situations, but United’s performance at Selhurst Park announced their arrival as genuine contenders in this tactical battleground.

The Stark Numbers Behind United’s Transformation

The statistics paint a vivid picture of how crucial set-pieces have become to United’s survival this season. With 21 goals scored in total, a respectable tally bettered by only four teams, an astonishing 47.6 percent have come via set-pieces. This represents the greatest proportion of any team in the Premier League and underscores just how dependent Amorim’s side has become on dead-ball situations.

However, the defensive numbers tell a less flattering story. United have conceded 20 goals this season, an improvement on just seven clubs, giving them a modest goal difference of plus-one. Of United’s 21 points accumulated this campaign, 12 can be directly attributed to goals from set-piece scenarios, excluding penalties. While it would be premature to suggest United would be languishing in the relegation zone without these contributions, the importance of their set-piece proficiency to Amorim’s reign cannot be overstated.

From Bottom to Top: The Erik ten Hag Era

The transformation becomes even more striking when examining United’s recent history. During the 2022-23 season under Erik ten Hag, United scored a paltry six goals from set-pieces, the fewest of any team in the top flight that term. To put this in context, every other team in the top five managed at least twice as many.

While United still finished third that season, the gap to champions Manchester City stood at 14 points, with Arsenal nine points ahead in second. Had United even approached Liverpool’s league-best 18 set-piece goals, those margins would have been significantly reduced. The best teams recognized set-pieces as invaluable weapons; United, for whatever reason, struggled to capitalize on these opportunities.

In Ten Hag’s first season, United managed just four goals from corners, joint fewest in the division alongside another struggling side. Their approach was predictable and uninspiring, typically focusing on the front post with vertical runs that rarely troubled organized defenses. The tactical setup showed little variation, with deliveries concentrated in zones that were easily defended by Premier League opponents.

Learning from the Best: Amorim’s Philosophy

Amorim has been refreshingly candid about his approach to solving United’s set-piece struggles. Channeling the spirit of Pablo Picasso’s famous quote that “good artists copy, great artists steal,” the Portuguese manager openly admitted to borrowing ideas from Premier League rivals who have mastered the art of dead-ball situations.

The United manager explained his philosophy clearly, noting that his team works extensively on set-pieces and learns from other clubs in England. The absence of European football this season has provided additional training time, allowing the coaching staff to implement complex routines that require extensive rehearsal.

Intriguingly, the free-kick routine that led to Joshua Zirkzee’s equalizer against Palace resembled one several teams, including United themselves, had previously attempted against Palace specifically. But United weren’t the first team against whom they deployed deep or wide indirect free-kicks toward the near-post zone.

Against Burnley and Sunderland earlier in the season, Bruno Fernandes’ quick thinking had released Zirkzee and Leny Yoro respectively with similar routines. The only issue was that on both occasions, the final pass wasn’t quite precise enough to catch out the defense, whereas it worked perfectly against Palace, with Zirkzee doing well to keep the move alive.

For the winning goal, Fernandes took his time over the delivery rather than relying on quick thinking, catching Palace out by nudging the ball to Mason Mount, who was somewhat unaware before adapting brilliantly and striking into the bottom-left corner. Mount revealed after the match that this was a routine they had worked on during pre-season, demonstrating the meticulous preparation underlying United’s improved performance. In the earlier examples against Burnley and Sunderland, Yoro and Zirkzee seemed certain what was coming because they moved with greater intensity than anyone else before the passes were played.

The Corner Kick Revolution

The most dramatic changes in United’s approach have materialized at corners. Under Ten Hag, their setup remained largely static, with players making predictable runs toward the front post. Data from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons shows a clear concentration on front-post deliveries with relatively predictable vertical runs.

Looking at United’s corner end locations over Ten Hag’s entire tenure, just 28 percent of deliveries landed in the central zone between the penalty spot and goal. This season under Amorim, United have adopted an approach reminiscent of Arsenal’s highly successful corner routines. Players now line up at the back post before making horizontal runs into dangerous areas, creating confusion among defenders and generating higher-quality scoring opportunities.

The statistical evidence supports this tactical shift dramatically. Over Amorim’s entire reign at United, 38 percent of corners have landed in the central zone between the penalty spot and goal, a significant increase from Ten Hag’s 28 percent. However, the data shows these changes are far more pronounced specifically this season.

An impressive 38 percent of United’s corners in 2025-26 have been delivered into back-post zones, a greater share than any other Premier League club. Furthermore, 15 percent of their corner deliveries are reaching the back-post zone inside the six-yard box this season, the third-highest proportion of all teams.

The effectiveness of this new approach is reflected in perhaps the most compelling statistic: 25.5 percent of United’s corners yield a shot at first contact, the highest percentage in the Premier League this term. This conversion rate demonstrates that their tactical evolution goes beyond simply trying different routines; they have fundamentally improved their ability to create genuine scoring chances.

Strategic Depth Beyond Initial Delivery

United’s corner setup isn’t just relevant for the initial delivery. In instances when the ball might be cleared or played short initially, United players instinctively know roughly where to aim for. A follow-up cross is likelier to come in from the side of the pitch the initial corner is taken from, and those crosses are generally easier to attack from the back post.

Harry Maguire’s winner at Liverpool came in precisely such a manner, with the back-post focus proving decisive after the initial delivery was cleared. Similarly, Casemiro’s header at home to Chelsea was partly made possible by Patrick Dorgu’s smart run to the back post for Noussair Mazraoui’s deep cross, though admittedly Chelsea’s subsequent inability to clear their lines proved quite helpful.

The Human Element: Quality Delivery and Physical Presence

As a well-regarded Premier League set-piece coach explained to Opta Analyst earlier this year, there’s only so much influence strategy can have. Being successful or not depends more on the quality of players’ deliveries than tactical innovation alone.

Bruno Fernandes has been criticized for his dead-ball deliveries in the past, but much of United’s success from set-pieces this season is attributed to him. His 55th and 56th Premier League assists for United came during the Palace victory, moving him past Paul Scholes in the club’s all-time rankings. Only Ryan Giggs with 162, Wayne Rooney with 93, and David Beckham with 80 have provided more assists for the Red Devils in Premier League history.

On the opposite flank, Bryan Mbeumo has arguably provided even more quality. Of his 21 corners taken this season, an exceptional 33.3 percent—seven corners—have been followed by a shot with the first contact. Only James Ward-Prowse with 50 percent from 14 corners and Adam Wharton with 41.7 percent from 12 corners have better records among the 50 players to take at least 10 corners this term.

The expected goals data further emphasizes Mbeumo’s effectiveness. Declan Rice is the only player whose corners have generated more expected goals from first-contact shots at 4.2 xG compared to Mbeumo’s 2.1 xG, though the Arsenal midfielder has taken almost twice as many corners—40 compared to 21.

United also possess the physical personnel to capitalize on quality deliveries. In Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Casemiro, United have a group of players who are either tall or capable of being a handful physically. This combination of reliable takers, players who can make decisive contact, and a general strategy that appears to be working has created a formidable set-piece unit.

Validation from Football’s Elite

Mikel Arteta, whose Arsenal side has become synonymous with set-piece excellence, offered perspective on the practice of borrowing tactical ideas from rivals during his pre-match press conference. The Arsenal manager acknowledged that every coach learns from other teams, emphasizing that while it might appear as copying, successful implementation requires adapting concepts to suit your own players’ abilities.

Arteta noted that he imagines every manager tries to learn from other teams, whether they admit it openly or not. He explained that it’s not about copying and pasting because ultimately your individual players have to be able to execute the routines. He observed that certain patterns become familiar across the league, whether in set-pieces or any other phases of play, but insisted this represents part of the evolution of any manager and every team.

This validation from one of the Premier League’s most respected tacticians lends credibility to Amorim’s approach. Rather than viewing United’s adoption of proven set-piece strategies as unoriginal, it should be recognized as intelligent management that identifies weaknesses and implements evidence-based solutions.

The Broader Context and Remaining Challenges

However, United’s reliance on set-pieces also exposes ongoing deficiencies in open play. Their modest goal difference of plus-one, combined with 20 goals conceded, suggests defensive fragility and attacking inefficiency during normal phases of play. Set-pieces have provided a crucial crutch, but sustainable success will ultimately require improvement across all aspects of their game.

The argument exists that United’s effectiveness at set-pieces further highlights their inefficiencies in open play. For years, United could be accused of being out-thought by their rivals in multiple phases of the game. Now, they finally possess a genuine edge in at least one area of the pitch.

Set-pieces cannot fix everything, and United’s overall performances this season have demonstrated significant room for improvement in possession play, creativity, and defensive organization. Nevertheless, for a club that has endured years of being tactically outmaneuvered by rivals, possessing a genuine strength in any area represents meaningful progress.

Under Amorim, United have demonstrated they can identify problems, learn from the best, and implement effective solutions. The Portuguese manager deserves immense credit for his humility in acknowledging where United need to improve and his willingness to study and adopt methods proven successful by others.

Whether this set-piece proficiency represents the foundation of a broader revival or merely masks deeper structural issues will become clearer as the season progresses. What remains undeniable is that United have undergone a remarkable transformation in an area where they were previously the Premier League’s worst performers, emerging as its joint leaders in just over a season under new management.

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