Manchester United suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday, and the match was defined by a solitary first-half goal from James Maddison.
Moreover, the result has raised serious questions about the direction of the team under manager Ruben Amorim. In addition, the defeat has intensified doubts among fans and pundits alike, with the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.
Notably, United have endured eight Premier League defeats in just 14 matches under Amorim. Consequently, the club now languishes in 15th place on the table. Furthermore, this dismal record has drawn comparisons with the struggles of bottom clubs like Leicester and Southampton, who have also experienced heavy losses this season.
Since December 4, Manchester United have lost eight matches, and the team’s form continues to decline. Additionally, the mounting pressure from a string of defeats has not only affected the squad but also the confidence of supporters. Thus, every setback seems to fuel further criticism of the current tactical setup.
Ex-United striker Michael Owen did not hold back his opinions after watching the match. He admitted that although he appreciates Amorim’s personality and managerial style, he struggles to see any improvement in the team. Moreover, Owen remarked, “It’s not getting any better for Manchester United, and they don’t look like a team at all,” which only adds to the growing concern over United’s future.
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Equally scathing was Gary Neville, who highlighted the glaring issues in Amorim’s pre-match setup. He pointed out that the spacing between midfielders, notably between Fernandes and Casemiro, was completely off. Consequently, Neville stated, “It breaks all rules of football. The structure of the team is awful,” and he emphasized that such disarray would be unthinkable even in youth football.
In addition, Amorim’s visible frustration after conceding the opening goal did not go unnoticed. Gary Neville observed that Amorim was “really angry” and was shouting at his bench, suggesting that the manager is losing control over his tactics. Thus, the heated reaction on the sidelines has only added fuel to an already fiery debate over United’s setup.
Despite the mounting pressure, Ruben Amorim remains defiant. He explained, “I have a lot of problems, my job is so, so hard here. But I stick with my beliefs.” Moreover, he assured fans that he is not worried about his own position, emphasizing that his focus remains on helping his players and eventually turning the tide in the table standings.
Ultimately, while Amorim stands by his tactical approach, both Michael Owen and Gary Neville continue to express deep reservations. Therefore, the pressure is mounting on United to reassess their strategies if they wish to reverse their fortunes. In summary, unless tangible improvements occur soon, Manchester United may continue to slide further down the Premier League table.