Rashford tipped for Man United axe v Man City amid major development today - pundit
A five-man defence may not be the "Man United way" but they must stick with it against Man City.
That is the view of ex-Aston Villa and England attacker Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Football Insider ahead of Saturday's Manchester derby and the likelihood Marcus Rashford will make way for Edinson Cavani.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reverted to a 5-3-2 system against Tottenham and retained the formation against Atalanta.
They convincingly beat Spurs 3-0 while Cristiano Ronaldo salvaged a 2-2 draw away to Atalanta in the Champions League.
It comes off the back of their 5-0 hammering to Liverpool at Old Trafford.
It would mean Rashford - who was recalled to the England squad today - making way for Cavani after starting the midweek Champions League draw against Atalanta.
"Listen, I think it's the way forward," Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
"When you're struggling as a team defensively, you revert to the five at the back. Chelsea do it, Conte will do it at Tottenham.
"I think that's the formation they will keep. Edinson Cavani will rotate with Marcus Rashford.
"Against Man City at the weekend, they will definitely play that formation. Make yourself hard to beat, make it hard to concede chances.
"It's not the Man United way, no, it's not. But when you struggle defensively that's what you've got to do.
"Good managers like Tuchel and Conte do that. They don't care about playing five at the back, they do it because it gets them results.
"Maybe this is the Man United formation until they stop conceding."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won four of his eight meetings with Man City as Man United manager.
He has drawn one and lost the other four derby fixtures.