Manchester United board harbour Ruben Amorim uncertainty despite Burnley win
It was a strange evening at Old Trafford on 30 August. Manchester United finally got their first win of the season by beating Burnley 3-2, but the road was far from easy. Early in the match, Casemiro’s header hit the crossbar and deflected off Josh Cullen to give United the lead. Burnley held their nerve, and Lyle Foster equalised.
United responded immediately, and Bryan Mbeumo gave them the lead just 93 seconds later. However, once again, Jaidon Anthony capitalised on Altay Bayindir’s sloppy work to level the game. Eventually, a penalty was awarded for a tug on Amad Diallo after VAR intervention, and Bruno Fernandes scored in the 97th minute to seal the win. After the match, Ruben Amorim said that United were the better team on the day, while Mbeumo openly backed Amorim.
Pressure on Amorim and Mirror report:
Although this victory came, the pressure was already at its peak for Amorim. The defeat to Arsenal at the start of the season, the draw with Fulham and then the humiliating defeat to League Two team Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup worsened the situation. Against Grimsby, United lost a 2-0 lead and lost on penalties.
Manchester United board harbour Ruben Amorim uncertainty despite Burnley win.
United win eases tension, but Mirror warns Amorim could still walk away.
After this, Amorim himself said that something had to change, and he fueled the speculation by saying that he would evaluate his future during the September break. Last season also proved to be a nightmare for United. 15th place in the Premier League and the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham had lowered the club’s credibility. In such an environment, winning the match against Burnley was like a fight for survival for them.
According to a recent Mirror report, there is still a fear in United’s inner circles that Amorim may suddenly resign. The report wrote that the victory over Burnley has brought relief, but the real issues remain the same. Many senior players are unhappy with Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system because it doesn’t suit the squad’s strengths. His habit of criticising players publicly has also destabilised the locker room.
Victory is relief, not a solution
We agree that the win against Burnley was necessary, but it cannot hide the real problems. The team lost the lead twice, and the victory came only due to a last-minute penalty by Fernandes. It is clear that United’s weaknesses are deep and cannot be solved by results alone. The biggest challenge is Amorim’s stubborn tactics.
His 3-4-2-1 system may have been successful at Sporting Lisbon, but this structure is not working for this squad. We believe that if he adopts 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, the strengths of creative players like Fernandes will come to the fore, and the midfield will also be strengthened. Right now, the midfield looks open, and the pressure on the defence is increasing, which needs to be changed.
Along with this, his public attack on the players also sends the wrong message. What he said after the Grimsby defeat hurts the team’s mentality. Amorim should build a trusting relationship with the players and keep the disagreements within. If he listens to their suggestions and brings flexibility to the system, then confidence can return.
The responsibility is not less at the club level either. Manchester United need a clear strategy and stable leadership. Nothing will be achieved by changing managers repeatedly. The victory over Burnley gives Amorim a chance to breathe, but the upcoming matches will be the real test.
Especially against strong teams like City, if these problems persist, then the pressure will increase again. In our opinion, the club should back Amorim for the time being, but at the same time should expect changes from him. Only if Amorim becomes flexible and stands with the players will this team get back on track.