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.”
Manchester United
Manchester United Post Record Revenue as Amorim Exit and Stadium Plans Shape Finances
United posted record revenue, but Amorim’s exit, losses and stadium costs still shaped the year.
Manchester United’s latest accounts have laid out a season of striking contrasts, with record income, a managerial dismissal and continued progress on a new stadium project all featuring in the 12 months to June 30, 2026.
The club reported revenue of $897.9 million, or £677.5 million, the highest single-season figure in its history. That total came in a campaign when commercial income slipped slightly, there was no money from European competition and the reduced fixture list affected gate receipts and food and drink sales.
Chief executive Omar Berrada pointed to the club’s “underlying strength of our business” and the “enduring popularity and commercial strength” of Manchester United as factors behind the numbers. Even so, the accounts still showed an overall net loss of $57 million (£43 million), underlining the scale of the challenge despite the record turnover.
The revenue breakdown showed commercial income at $440.4 million, broadcasting at $274 million and matchday at $203.4 million. Salaries also fell to $400 million (£302 million), accounting for just under 45% of revenue, as United continued to look for more disciplined spending and cheaper additions in the transfer market.
One notable cost came from the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January. Compensation for Amorim and his staff was listed among exceptional items and made up most of the $10.9 million (£8.2 million) cost. His contract was due to run until the summer of 2027, but the figure would likely have been higher had he not taken over at AC Milan in June after five months out of work.
A year earlier, United had continued paying Erik ten Hag for almost twice as long following his departure, because he remained out of work for nine months before joining Bayer Leverkusen in late May 2025.
On the infrastructure side, the club made further progress towards a new Old Trafford, which is planned a few hundred yards from the current ground. Acquiring land from the adjacent freight hub has been a key part of that effort, although Manchester United have still not submitted a planning application for the proposed 100,000-seat stadium that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to be a ‘Wembley of the north.’
Arsenal
One key issue facing each Premier League side after five matches
Five games in, the Premier League is already revealing title doubts, transition pains and early surprises.
The first five matchdays of the 2026/27 Premier League season have already given shape to a campaign that promised uncertainty from the outset. With the table still settling and another international break leaving a long pause before Matchday 6, there is time to take stock of what has emerged so far.
Arsenal’s title defence has already met resistance after a heavy defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Before that trip, they looked close to untouchable, but the champions have not yet shown enough to pull clear of their rivals. Bruno Guimarães has added quality, though injury has delayed his rhythm, while Christos Tzolis has stepped in as a serviceable replacement for Leandro Trossard. Even so, Arsenal’s attack was found wanting in their toughest test to date, with concerns lingering over the goalscoring burden on Bukayo Saka and the lack of a set-piece breakthrough.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are navigating a period of change after rebuilding their core in the summer. Their first league win of the season offered encouragement, with Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson and João Gomes all making useful contributions. Bournemouth have begun slowly under Marco Rose, but there is little panic as they balance league form with European demands after an opening win at Real Sociedad. Brentford continue to look like a difficult assignment at home, built on physicality and a set-piece threat that has already caused problems for visiting sides.
Brighton’s pressing game has been a feature of the early weeks, while Chelsea’s start under Xabi Alonso has raised serious questions about their structure without the ball. Coventry City finally recorded a first Premier League win in more than 25 years, though goals remain a concern. Everton’s window left them thin on options, Fulham are showing signs of adjustment under Álvaro Arbeloa, and Hull City have been one of the early surprises, even if history offers a warning.
Elsewhere, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur all have distinct questions to answer as the season develops.
Man Utd
Possible Carrick successors should Manchester United move on
Carrick faces pressure at United, with several managers already linked as possible alternatives.
Michael Carrick has been able to shrug off the noise around his Manchester United future for now, but the scrutiny on him is already significant. A difficult start to the 2026/27 season has eroded the stability he brought after returning in January, and the mood around the club can change quickly.
United have often felt only a few poor results away from a crisis, and that tension could intensify if performances do not improve after the break. Tottenham Hotspur visit the Theatre of Dreams on Oct. 10, a fixture that could sharpen the focus even further. There is no clear indication that Carrick is under immediate threat, yet the possibility of another change in the dugout cannot be dismissed if results continue to disappoint.
If INEOS were ever pushed toward that route, there are several names that would come into view.
Eddie Howe remains an obvious point of discussion. He left Newcastle United in the summer after deciding he no longer had the energy to guide them through a rebuild following their exodus. His work there was widely admired, with Newcastle moving away from danger and back into Europe, reaching the Champions League twice and winning the League Cup in 2025. Even so, some will wonder whether he is suited to the unmatched pressure that comes with Old Trafford.
Julian Nagelsmann, once regarded as one of the game’s brightest coaching minds, has seen his reputation cool after mixed spells at Bayern Munich and with the German national team, whose 2026 World Cup ended badly. His link with Christopher Vivell could keep him in the conversation.
Fabian Hürzeler is also drawing attention after Brighton & Hove Albion’s 3–0 win over Arsenal and an encouraging start to his third season in charge. His work and his ideas have made him increasingly prominent.
Unai Emery has shown before how he can manage a rebuild, and at Aston Villa he is again handling a major turnover. The links to United remain limited, though he would require major convincing to leave.
Cesc Fábregas, meanwhile, continues to stand out through the alignment between him and the Como hierarchy, with his rise in management gathering pace.
