Ruben Amorim moved to deflect attention from Manchester United’s shape and instead highlighted a mental issue he believes is driving their inconsistent results.

After a chaotic fixture at Old Trafford that prompted widespread discussion about systems, Amorim gave little away. “That is for you to discuss, not me,” he smiled when quizzed by befuddled journalists in his postmatch press conference. He added: “I will say the same thing, you can play with the same players it looks like one thing [and] is another thing,” he cryptically added before addressing the reports which had filtered through the press ahead of Monday’s game. “I know that you guys know that I trained this week the back four—I don’t know how [you know]—but that is a good thing for you guys to discuss.”

Amad Diallo offered a player’s perspective on the club website, stressing adaptability. “I think it depends on the opponent. We work depending on the opponent, when sometimes we play as a 4-4-2, sometimes we play as a 3-4-3, sometimes also we play 4-3-3, maybe people outside don’t see. As a team, we can change. “But the system doesn’t matter for us,” was the key message from Amad. One which Amorim shared.

Amorim underlined the finer points that, in his view, are costing points. “We are not winning games sometimes in the details not because it’s a back four, back three, back five,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “It’s the details that we need to work, understand the momentum of the game. You need to be more clinical, because today against a very good team we create so many chances to win the game.”

A more urgent issue is a pattern of conceding clustered goals. In five matches this season the opposition scored twice within 11 minutes or less: Grimsby (22’, 30’), Burnley (55’, 66’), Nottingham Forest (48’, 50’), Tottenham (84’, 90’+1) and Bournemouth (46’, 52’). After Bournemouth’s quick double Amorim said: “We lost the concentration and they scored two goals”.

Tactical changes against Bournemouth were limited, but the manager acknowledged upcoming selection challenges. Amad and Bryan Mbeumo have played their final matches before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, and Noussair Mazraoui has already joined up with Morocco. “That is the fun part of being a manager—you will try to find solutions with the players that we have,” he grinned. “After the last season, I think we are ready to cope with whatever they present in front of us. ]

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has framed his handling of Kobbie Mainoo around squad balance and the wider fortunes of several academy graduates. Amorim said his 3-4-2-1 formation does not play to Mainoo’s natural strengths and pointed to recent examples among the club’s youngsters to explain limited minutes.

“[Collyer] is from the academy, he played here, went to West Bromwich [Albion] and he’s not playing,” Amorim highlighted. “He played for Manchester United, so sometimes it’s not because he’s from the academy or whatever. It’s the situation that’s happened.”

Amorim added that opportunities are decided by training and match performance. “The door is open for any player to change my mind. But in the end, it’s going to be the training, the games. Of course, he’s not playing so many games, but Kobbs, he had opportunities, especially last year. Everyone had [opportunities]. Especially last year, everyone has.

“Amass is now struggling in the Championship. Chido is not always a starter in U21s. All these guys played when a lot of people were saying, ‘Sack the manager.’ You can see that I’m not worried. I just look at the team and try to win the next game. I will do that until the end.”

Mainoo was reportedly open to a loan move in the summer but the club declined the request. Amorim said there have been no winter-exit talks to date and stressed communication with the player would be welcomed. “First of all, the team comes first,” Amorim vowed. “If Kobbie comes to me and talks to me, I will talk to him.

“I’m not going to say what I’m going to say to Kobbie, but I will be really pleased if Kobbie is coming to talk to me about that. I just want my players [to be] happy and understand that every individual has their goals. The frustration doesn’t help anybody.

“I had some conversations with him, especially last year, and with other players, but about that subject, no, I didn’t speak with him.”

Amorim acknowledged the broader context: Mainoo is one of few senior academy representatives after the summer departures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, with an 88-year run of including a graduate in matchday squads at risk. The manager has admitted concern about ending that streak and The Telegraph note some inside United have concerns about how Mainoo has been handled. “Of course [I rate Mainoo], like everyone else,” Amorim insisted. “The problem is we are playing with two [midfielders] and you guys see Kobbie in a different way than I’m seeing.

“Maybe if you play with three midfielders, not with just two, Kobbie will have more minutes. Imagine that this happens. Someone in front is going to lose their spot. Sometimes it’s just the moment.

“I think I proved that if you change my mind [you can get into the team]. Casemiro is the biggest example. He was behind Toby and now he is a starter.

“Kobbs is one more player that I understand all the interests. I understand how important it is. The hopes that you guys and English guys have. I also just want to win. If he’s the right guy, I will put him in. No problem.”

Ruben Amorim acknowledged Manchester United’s recent displays have invited criticism but told vocal former players they do not fully appreciate the current context at Old Trafford. He also pointed to the club’s recent run of results as the central concern.

The manager, who has been in charge for 13 months, has won 24 of his 58 games at the club. Amorim noted the contrast between present expectations and the memories held by ex-players from United’s most successful periods, a group whose combined haul of Premier League titles totals 39.

On the criticism he faces, Amorim said: “I think it’s normal,” Amorim said. “I think it’s a fact that me, as a manager of Manchester United, I think we are underachieving. We should have more points, especially this season. So I take that naturally.

“Sometimes they don’t have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards that they lived here, always winning. So it’s hard for them to see their club in this situation.”

Throughout his 13 months at the helm, Amorim has coped with persistent debate over his 3-4-2-1 system and the manager’s handling of squad selection. One recent flashpoint has been his limited use of midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who remains the last academy graduate in the first-team squad.

Amorim has argued results would mute much of the criticism. “I think not winning is the issue,” Amorim claimed. “Of course you can point to a lot of things and they point to a lot of things that we need to improve, but the big issue is not winning. If I’m winning I can go to the games on a horse, arrive there, playing with just two defenders and everything will be fine.

“The problem is that, me as a manager, I’m not doing good enough and that is a fact also and I can accept that. So that is the only problem. For them it’s that Manchester United is not winning and is not in the position that it’s supposed to be.”

Amorim’s side prepare to face Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Monday. A victory could see United finish the gameweek in fifth, while a draw would lift them above Liverpool into sixth.