United interim boss Ronnick has admitted he may have used a three-centre-back formation against Aston Villa, like the tactics Solskjaer had used before leaving.
However, Lonnick said that the three-back system is suitable until most of the centre-backs are available, and at present, Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has not yet returned to normal, plus Eric Bai's participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, and the team only has Varane, Lindlev and Phil Jones.
Lonnick confirmed that Maguire had been unable to attend training last week. "Victor [Lindelof] was back on the training ground on Thursday and that's good news for us." Longnick explains, "Harry [Maguire] can't train yet, and we'll have to wait for his injury to develop and see if it's going tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Harry's ability to play in Monday's game is in doubt, and Victor can certainly play."
As for whether he will stick to the iconic formation of 4222, Lonnick replied: "I think most of England's teams have their own systems and they will stick with it. But there are also teams that switch between the three-centre-back and four-back system, or go from four to three-centre-back. For example, Bayern Munich or Red Bull Leipzig, who was also coached by Nagelsmann last season, although defensively it is a four-back, but the tactical system also rotates in the game, a bit like an asymmetrical three-centre-back."
Commenting on The manchester United situation, Lonnick analyzed: "I think that with our team, both tactics are choices. However, to play at three backs, we need most of the centre-backs to be able to play. I remember playing that way when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge, away to Tottenham and Villa, and home to Manchester City's derby. I think we can really play at centre-back, it's an option, but as I said, the premise is that the players who can play, and the state of the players under the current squad, and the characteristics of the opponents."
United will next face Villa Gerrard in two consecutive matches in the FA Cup and Premier League, with the cup at home and the league at Vera Park. As captain of Manchester United's former rivals Liverpool, Gerrard said he would not rotate in the FA Cup and would challenge Manchester United with the strongest squad.
"We'll choose the strongest squad," Gerrard said before the game, "there's plenty of time between the two games for players to recover, so there's no need for a big rotation." The cup should be seen as an opportunity to present ourselves to the fans, and you are very naïve to despise this event. Everyone has their own opinion, but the FA Cup is always a special event. My message to the players is that they can leave their career highlights in this event. If you're an Englishman, you'll have grown up watching the FA Cup finals and dreaming of competing. I realized that dream, to succeed in the Cup, and to make memories for the rest of your life."
Manchester United's centre-back Tuanzebi, who was loaned out to Villa, has completed the transfer, leaving Gerrard's side to join Napoli in Serie A. But Villa also have another Manchester United veteran, Ashley Young, who has a chance to return from injury to face his old club. In addition, Villa's liverpool veteran Coutinho, who is on loan from Barca, is unlikely to play in the FA Cup because the transfer procedures have not yet been completed, but the Premier League debut against the Red Devils in a week's time may be.