Ruben Amorim, the manager at Manchester United, has clearly communicated that he will not give up his back three system even though he is facing a lot of pressure after the disappointing results.
The Portuguese coach who replaced Erik ten Hag in November had a first season in which he mostly struggled against the opposition scoring just seven wins throughout the league in 27 matches while United came in last with their worst-ever Premier League standings. This season has also been bad with only one win from four league games and an embarrassing exit from the League Cup by a fourth-tier team, Grimsby Town.
Amorim has always been a three-centre-back man and he has never changed his mind about it, a fact that separates him from the rest of the Premier League “Big Six,” all of whom stick to their traditionally used four. According to his attitude, he is getting more and more reports of dissatisfaction among the players and the watchful eyes of the supporters.
On Friday, when asked if a suggestion of tactical changes made by United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe during his visit to the club’s training ground, then Amorim replied in a negative way. “Even the pope wouldn’t change this,” “This is solely up to me, my responsibility, my life,” he said. “If I were to give in to pressure and change, the players would see me in a different light. I am to really follow my path.”
Amorim was also accused of putting the captain Bruno Fernandes in a deeper midfield position. He justified the choice by saying it allows United to have more control even if it hampers Fernandes’ attacking freedom. “There are times when we lack Bruno in the forward line,” conceded Amorim, “but it is the right thing to do with respect to the whole.”
