Manchester United are reeling from a significant setback after a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Everton, a result that has sparked internal criticism and highlighted growing pains under manager Ruben Amorim.
Dressing Room Discontent Surfaces
The Red Devils entered the Monday night fixture at Old Trafford with confidence, riding a five-match unbeaten streak. However, the match took a dramatic turn early in the first half when Everton's Idrissa Gueye was sent off for lashing out at his own teammate. Instead of capitalising on the numerical advantage, United faltered.
Everton took the lead through a goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and managed to stubbornly hold onto their lead, securing a famous victory for their manager David Moyes. This marked Moyes's first ever win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager and left United languishing in 10th place in the Premier League table.
In the aftermath, defender Matthijs de Ligt did not hold back in his assessment of the team's performance. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Dutch international expressed clear frustration with the tactical approach.
"From our side, we didn’t do enough. Didn’t make the runs or bodies into the box," De Ligt stated. "They are strong in the air so we didn’t have the players to score from that. We basically played to their strengths."
He went on to pinpoint a lack of urgency and hunger as the core issues, suggesting the team was punished for not showing enough desire in crucial moments.
Club Legend Feels Unrecognised
Adding to the sense of disconnect surrounding the club, United legend Nicky Butt revealed a personal grievance that underscores a changing culture at Old Trafford. The former midfielder, who made 387 appearances for the club and won six Premier League titles, claimed he was threatened with having his season ticket revoked.
Appearing on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt explained the situation. "If you don't use them three times you get them taken off you," he said. "I've had an email saying 'you're having your ticket taken off you'."
Butt described calling the club to resolve the issue, only to be met with a representative who did not recognise his name or legacy. "I rang them up... they go 'Who am I speaking to please?' And I go Nicky Butt and they go, 'OK, well who's that?'" He expressed his disbelief, feeling compelled to list his achievements for the club he served for over a decade.
Fallout and Looking Ahead
The combination of a tactically poor performance, public criticism from a senior player, and the alienation of a club icon paints a worrying picture for Ruben Amorim. The manager is under increasing scrutiny to not only improve results but also to manage the morale and unity within the squad and its wider family.
With United sitting mid-table, the pressure is mounting for Amorim to find a solution and steer the team back towards the upper echelons of the Premier League, a task that now involves navigating both on-pitch tactics and off-pitch relationships.
