CLAUS FOR OPTIMISM

Resilient United up to fifth as Ruben switches tactics and Dorqu scores winner

- TYRONE MARSHALL

A FEW months ago, Ruben Amorim said even the Pope couldn't convince him to change his system at Manchester United.

But on the second day of Christmas, he gave in to popular demand.

If a back three is United's past, then could this back four be their future? Amorim had been teasing the idea of a change of shape in recent weeks and had worked on it in training, so the ghosts of Christmas hadn't visited him in his sleep and brought about an epiphany.

But however it came about, Old Trafford delighted in the reversion to a flat back-four and the end of wing-backs.

There is enough material from the past 13 months to give Amorim nightmares, but this change in formation delivered a change in fortunes as well.

After six weeks of blowing chance after chance to go fifth in the Premier League, they finally took it.

It might last for less than 24 hours, but it shows that this side is in the hunt for a Champions League spot, even if they spent almost the entire second half on the back foot.