Manchester United have been wildly inconsistent this season and Ruben Amorim's time at Old Trafford is again in the spotlight after a draw at home against relegation battlers West Ham
07:38, 05 Dec 2025Updated 07:38, 05 Dec 2025
Ruben Amorim
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has commented on Ruben Amorim's future(Image: Matt West/Shutterstock)
Manchester United's season so far has been marred by inconsistency and their latest win 2-1 away at Crystal Palace was followed up by a miserable 1-1 draw at home against relegation battlers West Ham.
The Red Devils have experienced a series of damaging results that have heaped pressure on underperforming manager Ruben Amorim, including an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to 10-man Everton, but they've also secured wins that suggested progress under the Portuguese manager, notably their 2-1 triumph over Liverpool.
December is always a busy month in English football and can often define a club's season. With United only competing in two tournaments this season and the FA Cup third round kicking off next month, the Premier League takes on even greater significance, meaning things must change soon. Here's all the latest news from Old Trafford.
Dressing room doubts
Manchester United fans endured another miserable night at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim
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Manchester United fans endured another miserable night at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim(Image: Ruben Amorim)
Inconsistency is the word that best describes United's season to date. After managing just two victories in their first six league matches, the Red Devils then went on a three-game winning spree, which included an impressive away victory at Liverpool, reports the Mirror.
This was followed by a three-match winless streak, featuring a humiliating 1-0 home loss to Everton, who played much of the match with only 10 men. Morale was subsequently lifted by their 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, but it's this rollercoaster of results that leads former Tottenham and Portugal midfielder Pedro Mendes to believe there's uncertainty within the United dressing room.
Speaking to BoyleSports, the 46-year-old said: "Manchester United will get back into the Champions League, but they are difficult to understand. How can you go for three, four wins in a row, playing really well, and then lose at home against Everton? You know, it's just another setback.
"When you think the confidence is building and everyone is getting up there and knows what it takes, and then they go away and win against Crystal Palace, which was a more difficult game than Everton at home.
"So that's the uncertainty also that's around the United dressing room that harms their confidence. But I honestly think that United have the quality and the players to finish top five and get in the Champions League for next year."
Bruno Fernandes role change
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United looks dejected
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Manchester United disappointed yet again at Old Trafford(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The Red Devils' captain, traditionally an attacking midfielder, has been operating in a deeper role in Amorim's system, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount all positioned ahead of him.
Fernandes, 30, has been a consistent scorer for United since his arrival, netting 100 goals in 304 appearances for the club. However, his new position further from the goal has seen his scoring figures suffer, with just two league goals to his name in 13 matches this season.
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Mendes reckons Fernandes is keen to operate further up the pitch and has pressed Amorim to devise a plan that allows his star man to return to his strongest suit. He said: "When Ruben Amorim was at Sporting, with Morten Hjulmand or Manuel Ugarte before, and Pedro Goncalves was in the middle.
"So, someone holding and someone just to take the ball and make the team play. I think at Man United, you have Casemiro, you have Ugarte, you need someone different and Bruno can give that to the team. For sure Bruno would love to play more upfront to score more goals but then you have good players upfront.
"You have Matheus Cunha, you have Benjamin Sesko, you have Joshua Zirkzee, you have good players upfront, so Bruno can have more presence and more importance in the team at this stage playing that middle role."