Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been accused of 'taking the mick' by a leading Sky Sports presenter after his latest cryptic tactical display ahead of a crucial Premier League fixture.
Warm-Up Games Spark Confusion
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 30 December 2025, as Manchester United prepared to host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford. Seeking to build on their Boxing Day victory over Newcastle United, manager Ruben Amorim once again kept his cards close to his chest.
In a move that caught the eye of Sky Sports' cameras, United's defensive line conducted their pre-match drills in a back three formation. The trio consisted of young defender Ayden Heaven on the right, Lisandro Martinez in the centre, and Luke Shaw on the left.
Sky Sports Team Left Baffled
This mirrored events from the previous match against Newcastle, where the defence also warmed up in a three before Amorim surprisingly lined his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. In that game, left-back Patrick Dorgu—who scored the winning goal, his first for the club since joining from Lecce—was deployed as an unconventional right winger.
Watching the warm-up ahead of the Wolves game, Sky Sports host Mark Chapman could not resist a humorous dig at the United boss's methods. Speaking alongside pundits Jamie Carragher and Ashley Young, Chapman quipped: "I think Ruben Amorim is taking the mick out of us a little bit because Manchester United have been warming up in a back three with Heaven on the right and Martinez in the middle and Luke Shaw on the left."
He then directed viewers to Sky Sports' coverage to "Find out if it's three or a four."
What Does Amorim's Riddle Mean for United?
The Portuguese manager's tactical ambiguity has become a talking point. While he has frequently used a 3-4-3 system during his tenure, his recent shift to a back four against Newcastle, preceded by a back-three warm-up, suggests a deliberate ploy to keep opponents guessing.
This approach leaves fans, pundits, and presumably Wolverhampton Wanderers' analysts, uncertain about United's true shape until the first whistle blows. Whether this is gamesmanship or genuine indecision remains a key question as Amorim looks to solidify United's Premier League position.
The only certainty is that all eyes will be on the team sheet and the opening minutes at Old Trafford to see if the warm-up was a genuine clue or merely another piece of misdirection from the United boss.
