Man United legends launch broad critique of Ruben Amorim after 3-0 derby defeat
Former players point to tactical rigidity, selection, aggression, recruitment and lack of progress as pressure mounts despite owner backing
Ruben Amorim faces a wave of criticism from multiple Manchester United legends after Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, with former players and pundits identifying five main areas of concern even as the club's owners have so far kept faith in the manager.
The loss at the Etihad left United 14th in the Premier League after five matches, their worst start to a season since 1992-93, and followed an earlier Carabao Cup exit on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town. United finished 15th in the league last season, the club's lowest-ever top-flight finish, and Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag in November.
Tactics were the first major target of criticism. Paul Scholes, speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, said opponents now know how United will line up and that Amorim's preferred 5-2-3 formation has become predictable. "There are so many clever coaches these days… they know exactly the way Manchester United are going to play every single week," Scholes said, adding that the system's lack of variation makes it easier to prepare against.
Gary Neville, a Sky Sports pundit and former United captain, described the manager's stance as "rigidity" and warned it was hurting the team. "I think there will be some pressure applied to the manager and his rigidity of sticking with the system," Neville said after the derby, saying repeated poor displays could increase scrutiny ahead of a run of fixtures that includes Chelsea this weekend.
Selection and the deployment of players emerged as a second fault line. Several former United figures questioned Amorim's choices and the positions in which players have been used. Nicky Butt said the squad lacks the appropriate physical profile for the system and suggested key players are being asked to operate in roles that do not suit them. "The players are just not at the level that Manchester United need," Butt said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
Bruno Fernandes, historically one of United's most creative attackers, has frequently been used in a deeper role alongside Manuel Ugarte, limiting his presence in the final third. That role has in turn restricted opportunities for academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, who requested a loan move during the summer transfer window. Wayne Rooney said United also lack leadership in defence and called for Harry Maguire to be reinstated to the starting XI to provide a more vocal presence on the pitch.
A lack of aggression and intensity was a recurring theme. Rooney, speaking on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show, said he saw little evidence of a physical response as the scoreline moved beyond United's control: "I didn’t see a tackle… That passion, that desire." Roy Keane made similar criticisms in the Sky Sports studio, saying he expected more visible anger and urgency from both manager and players after a derby defeat.
Recruitment and the integration of new signings were highlighted as a fourth concern. United spent over £200 million in the summer transfer window on attacking reinforcements, including Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and paid about £74 million for forward Benjamin Sesko. Rio Ferdinand, on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, said he was worried that Sesko has not been given sufficient chances or service. Ferdinand added that a new striker must be provided with opportunities to score to justify a high transfer outlay.
Some players who left the club on loan have fared well immediately: Rasmus Hojlund scored on his debut for Napoli after completing a loan with an obligation to buy, while Scott McTominay has reportedly increased his market value after contributing to Napoli's success last season.
The fifth criticism was a broader judgment about progress at the club since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013. Several former players said results and performances have not improved under Amorim and that recent trends are concerning. Rooney said he had hoped to see evidence of progression since Ten Hag's departure but called recent performances "difficult" to interpret as forward movement.
Despite the pointed assessments from ex-players and pundits, Daily Mail Sport reported there were no immediate plans to sack Amorim, with the club's ownership group believing progress is being made. The coming fixtures present early tests: United host Chelsea this weekend, followed by matches against Brentford and newly promoted Sunderland, before a league trip to Liverpool after the second international break.
Amorim and United now face scrutiny on several fronts: whether tactical inflexibility will be addressed, how new signings are integrated, whether selection choices will shift to reinstate leaders, and whether the team can produce the aggression and results demanded by former players and supporters. The next match at Old Trafford will be watched closely as an early indicator of whether the manager can alter the current trajectory.