Ruben Amorim told to perform U-turn over philosophy as Manchester United 'make sack decision'

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·18. September 2025

Ruben Amorim told to perform U-turn over philosophy as Manchester United 'make sack decision'

Ruben Amorim has overseen Manchester United’s worst start to a league campaign in over 30 years

Ruben Amorim has been urged to perform a stunning U-turn and change his system at Manchester United.

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Amorim is facing increasing pressure as Man United head coach as defeat in last weekend’s Manchester derby made it their worst start to a league campaign since the 1992/93 season.

The Red Devils have won just one of their opening four Premier League games and go into Saturday’s clash against Chelsea sitting 14th in the table with four points from a possible 12.

As a result, there have been reports that Amorim effectively has three games to save his job as Man Utd boss.

A lot of the post-Manchester City criticism for Amorim has been with regards to his preferred 3-4-3 formation, particularly his refusal to tweak it especially with United losing the midfield battle at the Etihad Stadium.

The Portuguese tactician said afterwards the club will have to sack him before he considers changing his philosophy, but Man United ambassador and club legend Bryan Robson believes Amorim is wrong to not adapt and has called for a to move to a back four.

Speaking to OLBG, Robson said: “I feel as a manager you have to have a few tactics up your sleeve. Otherwise people know how to set up against you.

“If you're playing the same way week in, week out, the opposition, and especially with all the technology and everything nowadays, you can go out on the training pitch and you set yourself up to do well against a team.

“That's why I feel he's got to be a bit more flexible.

Some people think about the old fashioned 4-4-2 but then I quite like 4-3-3 when you’ve got good forwards. I think United are still capable of doing that, going with the back four

Bryan Robson

“Most top teams in the Premier League now are nearly always playing with a back four and so for me, if you’re playing with four at the back instead of three, you can mix it up a little bit more as well.

“Some people think about the old fashioned 4-4-2 but then I quite like 4-3-3 when you’ve got good forwards. I think United are still capable of doing that, going with the back four.

“Whatever the manager wants to set up, if it's with the back five, you have to get off to a good start and score the first goal and then counter attack against teams. I think it's a good system then.

“If you're chasing the game, I always feel that you're lacking a midfield player or a forward so you're short in numbers because you've got the five at the back.

Bryan Robson has urged Ruben Amorim to be more flexible

Manchester United via Getty Imag

“I would like to see him be a bit more flexible but it looks like he's got his mind and he said it all last season that he's got his mind set on the back five so it's up to him and the players to show that they really can play in that system.

“They need to take on board what the manager's trying to achieve and pick it up as the season goes on because it is still early in the season and we have played against two very good teams who are going to be up there challenging for the title.

“So it has been quite a difficult start.”