Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has doubled down on his commitment to the 3-4-2-1 formation, insisting he will not bow to external pressure, even joking that “not even the Pope” could persuade him to change.
The Portuguese manager’s comments come after a turbulent week for United, following their derby defeat to Manchester City and a surprise EFL Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby.
Minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe visited Carrington on Thursday, though club officials stressed the trip was pre-planned. Amorim, however, brushed off speculation with humor, quipping that Ratcliffe was there to offer him a new contract.
Despite mounting criticism, Amorim explained that abandoning his system would undermine his authority with the players.
“If I’m a player and I have a coach that, with a lot of pressure, says ‘I’m going to change,’ they will look at me in a different way. This is my job, my responsibility, my life. I will not change that,” he said.
With £62.5m forward Matheus Cunha returning from injury, Bruno Fernandes is expected to continue in a deeper midfield role against Chelsea.
Critics argue the captain’s defensive lapses, such as failing to track Phil Foden in the derby, highlight why he should play further forward.
Amorim disagrees: “I want Bruno to have more possession to try to control the game… Sometimes we miss him in front, but if Cunha is there we have an extra player. He’s frustrated because he is not winning, but he has a job to do.”
United have managed just one win from four Premier League games this season, and while officials deny Amorim has a three-game ultimatum, upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Brentford, and Sunderland could prove decisive in shaping his future.
Meanwhile, director of football Jason Wilcox admitted the scale of the club’s problems since his arrival in 2024. Speaking at a Q&A, he said:
“I thought the club was in a much better place than it was. The whole structure of Manchester United needed to change. I pray we get the opportunity to turn it around. It’s not ‘will we win again?’ but ‘when we’ll win again.’”
