Manchester United have had a poor start to the season and the storm clouds are already gathering over manager Ruben Amorim.
It is only September but the prospect of another managerial change at Old Trafford is no longer unthinkable.
A 3-0 derby hammering at the hands of Manchester City only deepened the sense of crisis.
Amorim has made several questionable calls, with his insistence on using Bruno Fernandes in a midfield pivot standing out as the most baffling.
The Daily Mail have now revealed that Fernandes is believed to be unhappy operating in a deeper midfield role.
The United players are still struggling to get to grips with Amorim’s playing style.
The Portuguese head coach has been adamant about using Fernandes as one of the central midfielders alongside Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte.
He had pushed for an athletic midfielder in the summer, but INEOS instead chose to splash cash on attacking reinforcements.
That left a gaping hole in midfield unresolved, and it is already costing United dearly.
Just four games into the campaign, Amorim’s refusal to adapt threatens to bring his reign to a premature end.
Fernandes’ disappointment is understandable, as he has to play without freedom at times.
The 31-year-old is at his best when given the licence to attack and play Hollywood passes.
Amorim wants a more systematic progression, but Fernandes is not a perfect fit for that role in midfield.
The Portugal international is not positionally disciplined enough to occupy that role, with costly lapses leading to goals against Fulham and City.
A partnership of Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro could at least steady the midfield for now.
An in-form Ugarte will always be picked ahead of the Brazilian.
The fixes appear obvious, yet Amorim seems determined to trust his instincts, a gamble that could soon cost him his job.