Manchester United's struggles under former manager Ruben Amorim have been laid bare by a series of damning revelations, centring on tactical predictability and internal discord. The issues came to a head following a specific incident involving Bruno Fernandes and alarming feedback from opposition managers.
Opposition Managers Openly Exploit United's System
According to a report from The Daily Mail, United's director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, was left furious by brazen comments from Fulham after their 1-1 draw with the Red Devils in August. Vivell reportedly informed the club's senior leadership that Amorim's system was too predictable, sharing messages from Fulham's WhatsApp group.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva stated they knew exactly how United would defend, saying: "We knew how they defend. And we know they like to squeeze from the back five. If you don't give bodies for them to squeeze from the back five, you can create superiority in the middle." His player, Alex Iwobi, added: "We knew that we would be able to get behind their two midfielders and that their centre-backs would want to jump. We exploited that today."
Internal Criticism and the Fernandes-Casemiro Pivot
The criticism was not confined to rival clubs. Within the squad, players appeared to interact with public disapproval of Amorim's tactics. Defender Patrick Dorgu 'liked' an Instagram post from a fan page which declared: "Any coach that sees Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as a viable pivot is one that isn't serious." The post specifically argued that Fernandes and Casemiro could not play together effectively.
This sentiment echoed wider concerns about Amorim's controversial decision to deploy playmaker Bruno Fernandes in a deeper midfield role, a move that caused significant controversy and was seen as a key factor in United's lack of control in games.
Scholes' Fears for Kobbie Mainoo's Future
Club legend Paul Scholes voiced serious concerns about the development of young talent Kobbie Mainoo under Amorim's management. In a since-deleted Instagram post last month, Scholes claimed Mainoo "is being ruined, not being played in a team that can't control a game of football."
Speaking previously to Sky Sports, Scholes elaborated: "One of the most disappointing things for me is Kobbie Mainoo not being involved in this Manchester United team... The manager doesn't seem to quite fancy him." He suggested Amorim may not trust Mainoo physically, preferring the experience of Casemiro, but argued the youngster needed to play in a midfield three—a system United did not employ.
Scholes concluded: "I think Kobbie Mainoo is more than capable of being that playmaker, next to a Casemiro or a [Manuel] Ugarte. I think he's clever enough in possession, but for some reason the manager doesn't seem to think he's the answer at the moment."
These combined factors—tactical naivety exploited by opponents, visible discontent from within the squad, and the mishandling of key players like Fernandes and Mainoo—painted a picture of a team in crisis under Amorim, presenting a formidable challenge for his successor at Old Trafford.
