Man United legends unite in criticism of Ruben Amorim after derby humiliation

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim faced a chorus of public criticism from club legends after a 3-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday that left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League after five games.

Despite the backlash, Daily Mail Sport reported that owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have not moved to dismiss the Portuguese coach and believe there is still room for progress. The result compounded a poor start to the campaign that included a Carabao Cup exit on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town and follows United's lowest-ever Premier League finish, 15th, last season after Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November.

Former players and pundits identified five principal areas of concern: tactics, team selection, leadership, aggression and recruitment. Paul Scholes, speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, criticised what he called Amorim's predictability. "There are so many clever coaches these days," Scholes said. "They know exactly the way Manchester United are going to play every single week. With Amorim, everybody knows. It's easy to play against and easy to work out."

The Portuguese coach has regularly deployed a 5-2-3 formation that prioritises three centre-halves and a compact back line. Critics argue the system has not been adapted to opposition strengths and that a rigid approach has left United exposed in midfield and lacking invention in attack.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, said Amorim's "rigidity" was weighing on the team and warned of mounting pressure should results not improve. Nicky Butt, on the same podcast as Scholes, added that the players' physical and tactical attributes were not matching the demands of the system. "They're not aggressive enough, they're not quick enough, they've not got the legs in midfield," he said, pointing to a two-man midfield that now often features Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role alongside Manuel Ugarte.

Team selection and player roles were recurrent themes. Several former players and commentators expressed concern that Fernandes, historically an attacking creator, has been redeployed too deep to influence the final third, limiting chances for young midfielders such as Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo's reported request for a loan move during the summer and his reduced involvement have fuelled questions about squad management and development under Amorim.

Wayne Rooney urged the manager to restore experienced leadership to the starting XI, arguing Harry Maguire should be recalled to provide organisation and presence. "He should be starting," Rooney said on his BBC show, referencing Maguire's captaincy experience and leadership qualities.

A lack of aggression and competitive intensity was also flagged. Rooney said he saw little evidence of fight during the derby, adding: "I didn’t see a tackle — even when it goes to 2-0, 3-0. I didn’t see anyone say 'I’m not having this.'" Roy Keane made similar points on Sky Sports, calling for managerial anger and stronger, more physical performances from players in defensive situations and set pieces.

Recruitment decisions have drawn scrutiny too. United spent in excess of £200 million in the summer window on attacking reinforcements, including Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, while splashing roughly £74 million on Benjamin Sesko. Rio Ferdinand, on his podcast, said he was worried about Sesko's lack of opportunities and the absence of clear patterns to get the new striker involved. "A new striker comes in the football club, you've got to think about creating chances for him," Ferdinand said.

Some players who left or were loaned out have immediately produced positive results elsewhere. Rasmus Hojlund, loaned to Napoli with an obligation to buy, scored in their Serie A fixture over the weekend. The cases of Hojlund and Antony, who flourished after moving from United, were cited as examples of players finding form away from Old Trafford.

The broader context at United remains one of concern. It has been more than a decade since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, and successive managerial changes have failed to restore the club to title-challenging form. Rooney suggested there had been regression since Ten Hag's exit, saying it is "very difficult to sit here and say we are seeing progression." He added that some fans left the Etihad early in frustration, signifying the depth of disenchantment.

Amorim and his coaching staff face a quick run of fixtures that could influence perceptions and decision-making at the club. United host Chelsea on Saturday, a match that follows the Manchester derby and precedes winnable home games against Brentford and newly promoted Sunderland, then a high-profile trip to Liverpool after the international break.

Owners and the club hierarchy will weigh on-field results against plans and long-term strategy, but the volume of public criticism from former players underlines the intensity of scrutiny on Amorim's methods, selections and recruitment just six months into his tenure.