Manchester United[1] legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have launched a stinging attack on the club’s under-performing players after a £200million summer spend.
The former Red Devils heroes warned that ‘everyone knows how Manchester United are going to play’ and that the squad is ‘just not at the level’ required.
The comments pile more pressure on Ruben Amorim[2] after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City[3] at the Etihad – United’s worst start to a Premier League[4] season in 33 years with just four points from four games and an embarrassing Carabao Cup[5] exit to League Two Grimsby Town.
Amorim, who succeeded Erik ten Hag[6] last November, still has the support of Sir Jim Ratcliffe[7] and the Old Trafford board, but his refusal to compromise on a 3-4-2-1 system is understood to have unsettled sections of the dressing-room.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast[8], Scholes said: ‘Oh God, where do you start with it? You talk about his philosophy, his style of play now.
‘There are so many clever coaches these days in England and all around the world and they work it out quite easily. They know exactly the way Manchester United are going to play every single week.
Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have launched a stinging attack on the club’s under-performing players
The comments pile more pressure on Amorim after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad – United’s worst start to a Premier League season in 33 years
Amorim retains the support of Ratcliffe and the Old Trafford board, but his refusal to compromise on his principles is understood to have unsettled sections of the dressing-room
‘I remember when we were younger and in the first team and the team sheet always came through an hour before the game. You’d look at the players and the manager would be wondering how they’re going to play today.
‘Are they going five at the back, four at the back? With Amorim, everybody knows. It’s easy to play against and easy to work out because the coaches are that clever now.
‘I’m not sure even if he changed it, even if he played a 4-3-3. I just don’t think the players are quite good enough.’
Butt agreed, saying formations were a smokescreen for a more fundamental problem. ‘Forget the system,’ he said. ‘The players are just not at the level that Manchester United need.
‘They’re not aggressive enough, they’re not quick enough, they’ve not got the legs in midfield. They’re playing two in midfield, Bruno [Fernandes] in there, and he hasn’t got the legs to do it in a three let alone a two.
‘If they want results and he wants to keep his job in the long run, he’s going to have to bite the bullet and change a little bit. If he doesn’t, they’re going to keep losing games.’
Amorim retains the support of Ratcliffe and the Old Trafford board, but his refusal to compromise on his principles is understood to have unsettled sections of the dressing-room.
Some players have never been comfortable with the shape and even captain Bruno Fernandes is believed to be unhappy operating in a deeper midfield role.
The Manchester United icons gave a damming indictment of the Red Devils’ current plight on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast
Sunday’s derby defeat was watched from the directors’ box by Ratcliffe, flanked by new chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox
Sources insist the Portuguese coach has not ‘lost the dressing-room’ and point to a rebuild hampered by injuries to key signings, but pressure is mounting.
Sunday’s derby defeat was watched from the directors’ box by Ratcliffe, flanked by new chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.
Cameras captured the minority owner rubbing his face wearily as City cut through United at will – a grim reminder of how far Amorim’s side remain from their rivals despite the mega-money outlay on players to suit his system.
United host Chelsea next weekend before facing Brentford and Sunderland in fixtures likely to shape Amorim’s future.
References
- ^ Manchester United (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Ruben Amorim (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Manchester City (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Premier League (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Carabao Cup (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Erik ten Hag (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Jim Ratcliffe (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast (www.youtube.com)