Ruben Amorim faces mounting pressure at Manchester United. His persistent use of a 3-4-2-1 formation has divided opinion. Critics warn that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS might soon force a change.
United battled back at Goodison Park to salvage a 2-2 draw against Everton. Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte netted goals that canceled out strikes from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure. A late VAR controversy did little to lift their league hopes.
The Red Devils sit 15th in the Premier League. They stand just 13 points above the relegation zone and trail Champions League qualifiers by 14 points. This positioning underscores the enormous task Amorim faces.
In his 22 matches, Amorim has overseen nine wins and nine losses. His win percentage stands at 40.91%, a stark contrast to Erik ten Hag’s 54.69% record. The numbers tell a story of struggle and unmet expectations.
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The 40-year-old coach stubbornly sticks to his 3-4-2-1 system. Players have shown clear discomfort with the setup. Critics argue that he lacks the personnel needed to make the formation work effectively.
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson labeled Amorim’s tactics “insanity.” He stated, “I honestly don’t know what Amorim is trying to do. It’s insanity because it’s not working at all.” Merson added that Manchester United must switch to a 4-3-3 formation to restore solidity.
Amorim did little to ease concerns when he declared in mid-January, “We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United.” Despite the Daily Mail report that his words ruffled feathers, Ratcliffe and his team remain supportive. Manchester Evening News journalist Steven Railston warned that INEOS could soon demand change if results do not improve.
Off the pitch, United are exploring a swap deal that sends Marcus Rashford to Bayern Munich along with a supplementary fee. Amorim now focuses on bolstering his midfield and has even urged club chiefs to splash £66m on a rival Premier League star. The club is close to finalizing a deal for Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP, as Fabrizio Romano recently revealed. These moves aim to revive the team and align with Amorim’s long-term vision.