Manchester United are at risk of spiraling if they can’t get a run of positive results and a win in their next matchup after falling 3-0 on the road in the Premier League to crosstown rivals Manchester City in just the latest embarrassing result.
Major questions are being asked of manager Ruben Amorim, and while his job appears to be safe right now due to Man United ownership not wanting to risk futher instability, Amorim could very easily play himself out of security.
There are already reports that the players are disgruntled and just as upset with the stubborness of the manager and the dysfunctional system as the fans and punditry are.
Most concerningly, Manchester United’s biggest star isn’t happy with his role with the team. According to a report from the Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler, Man United captain Bruno Fernandes is not happy with having to play a deeper midfield role under Amorim.
As Wheeler notes, Fernandes is not just the captain of the squad but has also been one of Amorim’s biggest allies as a former Sporting CP superstar himself. So it’s a big deal for Fernandes to not like his role, and no Manchester United supporter could blame him.
Fernandes is clearly not a deep-lying midfielder or box-to-box player. His skill set isn’t suited to defending, running around, or holding position. He is a playmaker who needs the freedom to roam, make mistakes, and focus on creating chances, which he is the best in the Premier League at doing so in that capacity.
Amorim isn’t maximizing his players, and even Manchester United’s biggest stars and best players are being held back because of it. Soon, they may have to voice their concerns more vocally if Amorim doesn’t do the sensible thing and change.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.