Paul Merson: Chelsea would have been better fit for Ruben Amorim | OneFootball

Paul Merson has questioned Ruben Amorim’s future at Manchester United, insisting the Portuguese coach’s philosophy is ill-suited to the squad he inherited and suggesting Chelsea would have been a far better fit.

Writing for Sky Sports, the former Arsenal and England player argued that Amorim’s devotion to a 3-4-3 system, the formation that brought him success at Sporting Lisbon, has backfired at Old Trafford. Without the wing-backs or midfield legs required to make it effective, United have struggled to build momentum under his tenure.

“You look at United and this system does not suit the squad they’ve got at all,” Merson wrote. “The two wing-backs are nowhere near good enough, and they are a big part of this formation working. No legs in midfield. Everything is up against him.”

By contrast, Chelsea, Merson suggested, would have offered Amorim a squad tailored to his methods. With Reece James and Malo Gusto as dynamic wing-backs and Moisés Caicedo anchoring the midfield, the Blues possess the attributes required to implement Amorim’s style effectively. “He would have been a perfect fit there,” Merson claimed.

Amorim has to adapt

Amorim’s record at United has raised eyebrows. Nearly a year into his reign, he has yet to secure back-to-back league wins, a run Merson described as “unthinkable” for a club of United’s stature. Even positive performances have been undermined by lapses, with a late penalty needed to salvage a point at Burnley and a frustrating draw against Fulham compounding the sense of drift.

“You’ve got to be able to change now and then,” Merson concluded. “It doesn’t mean abandoning your beliefs, but tweaking it. At the moment, he doesn’t know his best team, and he’s been there a year. That’s a big, big worry.”

For Merson, the diagnosis is simple: Amorim is a talented coach in the wrong environment, one who might have thrived in blue rather than red.

GFN | Finn Entwistle