Under the kind of spotlight Ruben Amorim is currently feeling as Manchester United’s new manager. This follows an unflattering run of such performances over the course of the Premier League season thus far. Since taking over almost 11 months ago, Amorim has used 21 different back threes in only 33 league matches. His overall record is a paltry 3-2, so he has only 27.27 percent win percentage. This lackluster performance has sent fans and pundits alike into a tizzy.
As any supporter would tell you, the season has been brutal for United. Yet, they currently are floundering in 14th place in their league’s table standings. Their team have come third in three of those six fixtures, only drawing one and winning a mere two. This disaster arose last weekend with Brentford beating them at the Gtech Community Stadium 3-1 with an eye-opening upset. That loss meant Amorim would fail to win consecutive league games for the first time—something he has not done since May 2024.
Even Gary Neville, a widely respected pundit and former United player, has publicly condemned Amorim’s tactical gambits. Thomson is most concerned with the constant juggling of the defensive unit. He tweaks his back three and his back five every other game. The performance, and the outcomes, really, are very intolerable. So I’m really, really worried,” Neville stated.
Amorim’s reach into substitutions has been hotly debated. His in-game adjustments haven’t yielded the fruits he seems to be looking for. Two of those substitutes were at fault for two critical errors leading to goals, and none have scored off the bench in six matches so far this season. Sports commentator Heath Neville recently commented on this trend, pointing out the damaging effect of Amorim’s tactical inflexibility on the national team’s results. “When you’ve got Mason Mount playing at left wing-back, you’re going to look pretty stupid,” he added.
Despite some tactical changes appearing to work, such as Harry Maguire’s first start in the back three last season, the overall inconsistency has raised significant doubts about Amorim’s managerial capabilities. His track record is almost identical to that of Chris Wilder’s at Sheffield United while he was in the Premier League. This similarity increases the increasingly powerful pressure on Amorim.
Gary Neville added to the calls for haste in improvement, indicating that the Manchester United board might expect, if not require, a quick upturn in fortunes. I mean, now, granted, we love managers who – resilient managers, who are stubborn around the system. We don’t want them to deviate from the plan, and so far they’re not,” he said. Even so, he continues to express doubts on whether Amorim can produce the proper outcomes with rapidly escalating expectations.
Manchester United have a busy schedule ahead with fixtures coming thick and fast. The coaching staff will need to address these tactical issues to make their way up the league table and win back the fans’ faith. Whether the team can be better this awful season is key. It will determine whether Amorim should remain in power or the city needs something different.
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