Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville unleashed a detailed and passionate critique of manager Ruben Amorim's tactical decisions following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
Neville's Scathing Tactical Analysis
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville expressed his profound disappointment as Amorim reverted to a 3-4-3 formation that had previously proven unsuccessful, despite a positive 1-0 win over Newcastle United just days earlier using a 4-2-3-1 system. The pundit, having watched six of United's last seven games, stated he knew "what looks right and what isn't right" and was "really surprised" by the manager's choices.
Neville pinpointed specific player deployments that he believed hampered the team. "[Joshua] Zirkzee on this right side having to chase back to right back almost, [Diogo] Dalot right wing back, Ayden Heaven right centre back, [Patrick] Dorgu over on the left back where he's not been playing well," he listed. "All of it just isn't as good as it was in the last couple of games... They're in exactly the same place as we are."
He argued that while United could have "got away with it" against a struggling Wolves side, the system was fundamentally flawed. "The performances have been so much better in these last two or three games through the tweaks that have been made but he's gone back tonight to his 3-4-3," Neville concluded.
A Frustrating Night at Old Trafford
The match itself was a tale of missed opportunity for the Red Devils, who were missing key first-team players including Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Bryan Mbeumo, and Amad Diallo. They took an early lead when Joshua Zirkzee's effort deflected off Ladislav Krejci for only his second Premier League goal of the season.
However, Wolves pegged them back just before half-time, with Krejci redeeming himself by heading home from eight yards out. The result was a stark contrast to United's 4-1 victory at Molineux just three weeks prior.
Deep into added time, Patrick Dorgu thought he had snatched a dramatic winner, but his effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR check, compounding the home side's frustration.
Fallout and Manager's Response
The draw leaves Manchester United in sixth place heading into the New Year, a position that will increase the scrutiny on Amorim's methods. In his post-match interview with the BBC, the manager described it as a "strange game", admitting his side "struggled in the first half trying to steal the ball" and lacked the necessary quality and imagination to create chances.
Neville's pointed analysis highlights the growing pressure and tactical debate surrounding Amorim's tenure, as fans and pundits alike question the consistency of his approach following a promising result against Newcastle.
