Ruben Amorim has been cautioned against repeatedly altering Manchester United's defensive line-up during matches, with former players warning that the changes risk unsettling his squad. The warning comes after United's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, which secured only their second Premier League clean sheet of the season.
The Portuguese head coach made several defensive switches in the second half as his side withstood a late assault from the visitors. These included withdrawing Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw for Tyler Fredricson and Tyrell Malacia, a decision that surprised many observers.
Former United goalkeeper Ben Foster has now urged Amorim to avoid such alterations, suggesting players would not have been pleased with the disruption. Speaking on the Fozcast podcast, Foster said: "Man United seem to make defensive changes a lot, weird ones as well. Maybe that's just his way and he obviously sees something that no one else does." He added: "You don't understand what it's like being a team in those last dying moments, with seven or eight minutes to go. You don't mess with it. Everybody knows where they are."
Gary Neville, another former United star, also expressed bewilderment at the closing line-up. Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: "I'd go as far as to say it's the most bizarre Manchester United XI I've ever seen on the pitch at the end of a game. But they're hanging in there. They're fighting for their lives and Newcastle are pushing them."
Amorim, who has favoured a 3-4-2-1 system since taking charge, shifted to a back four against Newcastle before the defence morphed into a back six in the closing stages. Defending his decisions, he said: "I think we suffered all together. We managed to defend, sometimes with a back six, but we suffered together and that is a good feeling. If we always have this spirit, we are going to win so many games."
