Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United’s head coach has hit a rocky patch, with the club’s recruitment chief, Christopher Vivell, reportedly expressing discontent with the tactical approach employed by the Portuguese manager.
Despite a season that has seen the Red Devils make strides towards Champions League qualification, recent results have left a sour taste, particularly following a lacklustre 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who languish at the bottom of the league table. The improvements this season are broadly credited to a productive summer in the transfer market, which saw United shed excess squad baggage and bring in impactful signings such as Senne Lammens, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha.
Nevertheless, questions are being raised about Amorim’s insistence on deploying a 3-4-3 formation, which many feel fails to capitalise on a squad better suited to a traditional 4-3-3 setup. The absences of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, both tied up with international duties at the African Cup of Nations, have only accentuated the side’s attacking frailties under the current system. Amorim has been criticised for persisting with misfit tactics, notably during the match against Wolves.
As the club prepares for another challenging fixture against Leeds United at Elland Road, a report from The Daily Mail suggests murmurings of disapproval from within the club hierarchy, with Vivell notably perturbed by the tactical rigidity on display in previous matches, particularly against Fulham. Marco Silva, Fulham’s manager, openly critiqued United’s predictable defensive setup after their encounter in August ended in a stalemate.
Silva highlighted United’s vulnerabilities, saying, “We knew how they defend… It’s simple to create superiority in the middle,” pointing out how Fulham managed to exploit United’s setup with ease.
Internally, Vivell is reported to have shared Silva’s post-match remarks with United’s senior leadership, underlining the necessity for tactical evolution to prevent predictable and exploitable strategies in future encounters. The atmosphere at Old Trafford continues to be charged with anticipation and apprehension as speculation swirls about potential managerial changes and future strategies.