Sir Alex ready to "go against United history" and use diamond formation

Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to clip Manchester United's wings and have them play in a diamond formation instead.

Manchester United manager Ferguson has played with wide men throughout nearly 40 years in management, and wingers are a tradition at Old Trafford, too.

But the summer signing of Borussia Dortmund and Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa and the emergence of Tom Cleverley after a year wrecked by injury have prompted a rethink.

With Kagawa and Cleverley expected to face Braga in Tuesday's Champions League tie at Old Trafford, Ferguson is considering changing the habits of a lifetime and making the diamond United's Plan A.

"If it turns out we play the diamond consistently, it would be revolutionary because it is going against our history," said Ferguson.

"But the level of the game in England and Europe now is so high that making yourself unpredictable is going to be a strength.

"Teams will have to think if we are going to use two out wide or the diamond, because we have players capable of doing both things.

"Kagawa and Cleverley can play really well in the type of game that a diamond offers, whilst in Nani, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia we have very good wide players."

Source: DailyMirror