BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has claimed that Ruben Amorim has received a reality check over two Manchester United players ahead of the Everton clash on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim arrived at Old Trafford at the start of the November international break and the former Sporting CP manager succeeded Erik ten Hag at the club.
Erik ten Hag was sacked in late October and Manchester United triggered the £9.25m release clause in Amorim’s Sporting CP contract earlier this month.
Amorim, who inked a contract until contract June 2027, led the Red Devils for his first match after the November break against Premier League side Ipswich Town.
United started strong against Ipswich Town last weekend, but the Red Devils had to settle for a point after a 1-1 scoreline at Portman Road.
Following on from the Ipswich clash, Amorim had his first match as United manager at Old Trafford on Thursday evening and the Red Devils beat Bodo/Glimt 3-2.
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Ruben Amorim Manager/Head Coach of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Manchester United and FK...
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Sutton singles out two Man Utd stars
Speaking in his BBC Sport column, Chris Sutton has raised question marks around Ruben Amorim’s preferred formation after the 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town.
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Amorim deployed a three-man backline and Christian Eriksen and Casemiro took their place in the centre of the park, with the pair failing to inspire for their side.
The Manchester United manager stuck with his 3-4-2-1 formation against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League, but Amorim shook up his approach to the midfield.
Both Christian Eriksen and Casemiro were dropped to the bench and Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes played in the midfield in the Europa League tie.
Sutton is not convinced Amorim’s formation will work with the current United players, with the BBC Sport pundit singling out Eriksen and Casemiro.
“There has been so much hype, or even over-hype, about Manchester United, and I feel a bit sorry for their new manager Ruben Amorim because he needs time, and two or three transfer windows, to put things right,” he said.
“There was a lot of excitement over the way they started his first game in charge, against Ipswich, but blimey you have got a problem if the Tractor Boys are out-playing you, which is what happened in the end.
“Things got worse for Amorim when Ed Sheeran interrupted his interview on Sky afterwards. I have to give credit to commentator Conor McNamara here, but maybe it is time for Amorim to listen to one of Sheeran’s biggest hits and think about ‘the shape of Man U.’
“I think the reality is hitting home about Amorim using his favoured 3-4-3 formation with their current squad – especially with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in midfield.”
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Sutton dropped Man Utd vs Everton prediction
United are currently 12th in the Premier League table and the Red Devils are six points adrift from the top four after 12 matches played.
Everton, on the other hand, arrive at Old Trafford only two points above the relegation zone and Sean Dyche’s men are 15th in the Premier League table.
Sutton has predicted that United will be held to a 1-1 draw at home against Everton and believes Amorim will “find out” what it’s like being “under the microscope.”
“As for Everton, well a fair few of their fans still seem to be on Sean Dyche’s back, and they could not find a way past Brentford’s 10 men last week,” he added.
“This time, they will be the team looking to hold out and I believe they can do it because this United team is going to take a while to click.
“Once the initial buzz of Amorim’s first home game dies down, things could go flat at Old Trafford, the way it has done quite a lot recently.
“I hope it happens for them under Amorim because he seems like a decent guy, but he is in the Manchester United madhouse now and he is about to find out what it is like to be under the microscope every single week.”
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