Manchester United’s replacement for Ruben Amorim has one major issue to address that opposition managers and players openly speak about after they play the Red Devils.
Manchester United’s director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, reportedly informed the club’s senior leadership that Ruben Amorim needed to make his system less predictable back in August. The Daily Mail claims that the former Chelsea technical director shared comments made by Fulham head coach Marco Silva and their player, Alex Iwobi, in their WhatsApp group about them knowing what United would do before their 1-1 draw.
Silva said after the hosts came from a goal down to earn a point at Craven Cottage: “We knew how they defend. And we know they like to squeeze from the back five.
“And if you don’t give bodies for them to squeeze from the back five, you can create superiority in the middle. We know they play with two in the middle, we tried to overload with our three plus Alex (Iwobi); and it was as simple as that.”
READ MORE: Man Utd dressing room rules that Ruben Amorim replacement could change immediatelyREAD MORE: Roy Keane and Paul Scholes brutally ripped apart boss Man Utd are ‘set to approach’
Iwobi added: “We knew that we would be able to get behind their two midfielders and that their centre-backs would want to jump. We exploited that today.”
Explanations about how Fulham exploited Amorim’s system are claimed to have annoyed Vivell because of their brazen nature. United’s players have also interacted with criticism of the Portuguese coach on other social media platforms.
Patrick Dorgu ‘liked’ an Instagram post from one fan page which included the statement: “Any coach that sees Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as a viable pivot is one that isn’t serious.” The caption on that post read: “Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro CANNOT play together.”
Paul Scholes said last month in an Instagram post he later deleted that Kobbie Mainoo “is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football.” The former midfielder had previously told Sky Sports: “One of the most disappointing things for me is Kobbie Mainoo not being involved in this Manchester United team.
“We saw how good he was 18 months, two years ago, and for some reason it hasn’t quite happened for him. The manager doesn’t seem to quite fancy him, but we all know the qualities he has.
“But the manager’s just for some reason preferring somebody else, and that’s something he has to deal with. I think he’s dealt with it quite well at this minute, but at some point, he will get frustrated.
“As I’m frustrated with watching Manchester United at times as well, and especially with Kobbie Mainoo, because home-grown talent, we don’t have many of them anymore, and we want him in our team.
“He [Amorim] possibly doesn’t trust him physically at the moment. Casemiro isn’t the most physical, but he’s streetwise. He knows the position; he’s done it for so many years in a great Real Madrid team, so he’s got that experience.
“Kobbie hasn’t quite got that experience yet. I think Kobbie, if he’s going to play, he needs to play in a midfield three, really. Manchester United don’t do that.”
“They’ve got a midfield two with two 10s. So, for him to get one of those positions is something he’s got to work his way into doing now. Maybe you need two Bruno Fernandes.
“You need a Bruno Fernandes to be the playmaker, and one to be a No 10 as well. I think Kobbie Mainoo is more than capable of being that playmaker, next to a Casemiro or a [Manuel] Ugarte.
“I think he’s clever enough in possession, but for some reason the manager doesn’t seem to think he’s the answer at the moment.”
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
