Gary Neville warns Ruben Amorim is 'running out of time' after Manchester City defeat

Gary Neville said he had "seen this film" before and warned Ruben Amorim was running out of time as Manchester United's early-season crisis deepened after a 3-0 defeat by Manchester City.

Neville made the comments on Sky Sports after Erling Haaland scored twice to settle the derby, and with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox watching from the stands. "Man Utd are 14th, we're only four games in," Neville said. "There's got to be a turnaround pretty quickly, and the manager's idea has got to land very quickly with the players." Reports after the match noted Amorim has recorded just eight wins from 31 Premier League matches and accrued 31 points from 31 league games since taking charge, figures described as the worst for any ever-present top-flight club in that span, with a reported permanent-manager win rate of 36.17 percent.

Amorim remained defiant after the defeat, saying he would not compromise on his system or philosophy and that any change would have to come from ownership. Neville said that while it was "not a time for panic," there had to be rapid improvement or pressure on the manager would build. "Next week if they lose [against Chelsea], they would go to 15th and 16th. It's five games in and before you know it you're in October and they're in the bottom half of the table," Neville added.

Former United fullback Danny Simpson also singled out personnel as a major issue, naming three players he believes "do not work in the Premier League." Simpson told Stadium Astro that Patrick Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot do not provide the width or threat required on United's flanks, arguing that Amad Diallo offered a more natural option when used as a wing-back. "The ball goes to [Dorgu] on the left. City let him have it [because they know] he's not going to hurt you," Simpson said. He added that new signing Benjamin Sesko, who started the match, struggled to affect the game because of the lack of service and attacking support.

Roy Keane, another former United captain turned pundit, said the problems looked familiar and raised questions about player buy-in to Amorim's methods. "This United team lack that real quality. They struggle defensively," Keane said on Sky, noting that the club had spent more than £200 million in the close season and given the manager a full pre-season. "You talk about the system but the manager is sticking to his guns. You look at the results and the points per game, goals for and against. It is not good reading. It does concern me."

Keane highlighted recurring issues from last season, including defensive frailties and a limited scoring record. He noted United had scored four goals so far in the campaign, two of them from penalties, and questioned whether repeated tactical changes were creating confusion rather than clarity. "My worry is... maybe the players haven't got that much faith in it," Keane said, adding that frequent alterations to the team and approach risked putting the club "round in circles."

The defeat to City marked another low in a sequence of results that critics say have yet to reflect the level of investment made by the club's hierarchy. Observers contrasted United's struggles with perceived progress at other clubs: Tottenham Hotspur, who finished 17th in the previous campaign, have been cited as improving under new manager Thomas Frank, while other figures have pointed to quick impacts made by incoming coaches elsewhere in the league.

Amorim's side have now begun the campaign under mounting scrutiny over tactics, selection and transfer strategy. Ownership representatives were visibly engaged at the Etihad Stadium; reports captured Ratcliffe with his head in his hands as City's victory was confirmed. United travel to Chelsea next, a match Neville flagged as a potential turning point in the early weeks of the season.

With results failing to match expectations and debate growing among former players and pundits about both strategy and personnel, Amorim faces intensified scrutiny from supporters, the media and the club hierarchy as he seeks early signs of improvement.