Manchester United
Maguire Backs Amorim’s System as Manager Stands Firm
Maguire defends Amorim’s 3-4-2-1; Amorim refuses to change his system before Chelsea visit Saturday.
Harry Maguire has pushed back against the idea that Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 is the cause of Manchester United’s early-season difficulties, arguing that the responsibility lies with the players rather than the formation.
The three-at-the-back approach is not new to the Premier League; Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace have adopted similar systems and Antonio Conte won the 2016–17 title with Chelsea in a 3-4-3. Maguire suggested the shape has become an easy target because results have not followed.
“I think the formation is an easy one to go at, because we’re playing something a little bit different to everybody else,” he told Sky Sports . “For me, it just became an easy one to go at when the results don’t work.
“The formation has been fine. Like I said, box to box we been pretty comfortable in every game. Tactically we’ve been comfortable in every game, it’s got to be down to the players. The players have got to take their moments, they’ve got to make the difference in those moments.
“I think this season, the first four games, we just haven’t done them ‘moments’ well enough. And like I said, we haven’t defended in our box well enough in the big moments. Every time the opposing team comes near the box, it ends up in the back of the net, which is something we need to work on.
“But I think the formation is just an easy one to dig out because we’ve not been winning football matches. The formation is not a set formation, everyone says ‘3’ or ‘5’ but in a lot of phases of the game, we play a back four.
“We’ve been happy since the manager has come in. It’s an easy one to dig out, but it’s down to the players to execute. And if you’re a good player, you can play in any formation.”
Amorim, meanwhile, has been unequivocal that he will not abandon his tactical approach and said he will only make changes as part of a process rather than in reaction to pressure ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Old Trafford.
“No one, not even the Pope will change [me],” Amorim stressed. “This is my job, this is my responsibility, this is my life. So, I will not change that.
“There will be an evolution, but we need to make all the good steps. If I’m a player and I have a coach that, with a lot of pressure and all around the world they are saying, ‘You need to change the system’—if I change in this moment, the players will look at me in a different way.
“When you think about the impact that any decision is going to have on the team, everything is important. So, I will say the same thing: this will have to be an evolution. I’m doing things my way. Some guys do it in a different way, but it [results] will change. I hope to have the time to change, but they will change. I’m just trying to win games, trying to see what is the best option to win the next game.
“I’m trying to get the best connections to play better and, in the end, to win points. It’s about belief, confidence, aggression, it’s everything. And sometimes, what we call luck means we will play the game with more belief. Sometimes, with us, I feel the opposite. We are playing well, but something is going to go wrong in some moments. We need to change that, but it’s just with wins.
“I can do whatever, but if you look at the goals against [Manchester] City and Fulham, all these moments can be stopped. In all these moments, I think we can do better. It’s our fault. So we work on that during the week to improve.”
Man Utd
Mbeumo: Players, Not Amorim’s System, Must Own Man Utd’s Form
Bryan Mbeumo rejects tactical blame for Man Utd struggles and says players must improve together….
Bryan Mbeumo has pushed back on the notion that Ruben Amorim’s tactical setup is the root cause of Manchester United’s early issues. Signed this summer to help United adapt to the new arrangement after operating both as a striker and a winger in a similar role at Brentford, Mbeumo urged focus on the squad’s response rather than the system itself.
“It’s a little different for me,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ve played this system in the past as well.” Mbeumo argued that external criticism should not distract the players from finding positives and fixing details on the pitch.
His remarks follow similar comments from defender Matthijs de Ligt, who has asked team-mates to shoulder more responsibility for results instead of directing blame at Amorim. Mbeumo expanded on that position, emphasising collective accountability.
“I think everyone in the team needs to take responsibility,” Mbeumo continued. “When you play in a club this big, everyone needs to know what to do. As a team, we need to do better.” The forward made clear he sees the issues as fixable and linked to the squad adapting to each other rather than a fundamental flaw in tactical shape.
Despite the turbulence surrounding the club’s start, Mbeumo said his early months at Old Trafford have been positive. He highlighted the challenge of building combinations with new team-mates and expressed confidence in improvement as players grow accustomed to each other.
“It’s exciting, because we get to learn to play with new players and it’s always challenging, but that’s what we like as footballers,” he added. “Of course it will improve, we haven’t played a lot together, so there are certain things that we’re going to improve, and there are different types of players, but it’s good to be with them.”
Manchester United
Tyrell Malacia Rejoins Manchester United First-Team Training
Malacia returns to United first-team training after Elche move collapsed late in the summer window..
Tyrell Malacia has been recalled to Manchester United’s senior group after failing to complete a summer exit. The left back had been close to a move to Elche late in the window, but that transfer collapsed at the eleventh hour, leaving the Dutch defender at Old Trafford.
According to reports, Ruben Amorim has “reintegrated” Malacia into the first-team setup and the player will soon return to training at Carrington with the senior squad. Until now Malacia had been working with the Under-21s as he rebuilt fitness following a long spell out.
When he rejoins the senior group he will be part of a left-back cohort that includes Patrick Dorgu, Diego León and Luke Shaw, although Shaw has been utilised as a centre back this season. The decision to bring Malacia back is not thought to stem from injury problems in the squad or the club’s poor start, with the Red Devils having lost four of their opening seven matches in all competitions this season.
Malacia arrived at United from Feyenoord in a move valued at £13 million ($17.6 million), one of Erik ten Hag’s Eredivisie signings. His progression at the club has been derailed by injuries. He missed the entirety of the 2023–24 season with a knee injury and, since returning from treatment, has managed just eight appearances for United.
The collapsed switch to Elche leaves Malacia with a fresh opportunity to re-establish himself within the senior group. Training with the first team under Amorim will allow the left back to continue his recovery in the club environment and compete for minutes alongside the other options available to the coaching staff.
Manchester United
Cunha’s Stark Dressing-Room Verdict After 3–1 Defeat Highlights Deeper Issues
‘Horrible. Honestly, horrible,’ Matheus Cunha said after United’s 3–1 defeat urging team to improve
Matheus Cunha delivered a blunt assessment of the mood inside the dressing room after Manchester United’s 3–1 loss to Brentford on Saturday. The summer signing said the state of the squad after the defeat was clear and unsettling.
“Horrible. Honestly, horrible,” he told TNT Sports. “I always say the same, we know how important it is to play for a club like this one and we go for every game to win. For it not to end like that, it is a horrible feeling. Everyone wanted to do more, everyone needs to do more. Of course, we need to go again, that’s only the way.
“Honestly, trying to find excuses, I don’t think is the way. We know what you need to do. I don’t think we did well. They were more fit, they arrived and scored goals, but like I say, that is not an excuse.”
Cunha was signed to inject life into an attack that has struggled. He was brought in to revitalise a stagnant attack alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško but has yet to record a goal involvement. Among the three summer signings, they have managed just two goals.
The trio started together for the first time this season. The Slovenian scored his first goal and Mbeumo won a penalty, but captain Bruno Fernandes failed to convert from the spot for the second time this season.
Results like Saturday’s have intensified scrutiny over the coaching situation. Questions surrounding Amorim’s future are likely to continue given the continued struggles. Players like Harry Maguire have previously cited the benefit of a full preseason under the Portuguese boss over the summer, though the defence continues to be a worry.
Manchester United now host Sunderland on Oct. 4 before the next international break, then face league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on their return. In goal, Senne Lammens is still awaiting a debut as Altay Bayındır keeps the starting spot following the loan departure of André Onana.
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