The Bournemouth game reopened old wounds as Ruben Amorim once again trusted Ayden Heaven over balance and paid the price.
Ayden Heaven Thrown In Too Soon As United Wobble
Ruben Amorim walked into this job promising control, but his latest call feels reckless. Starting Ayden Heaven in the heart of defence against Bournemouth was a risk that never looked safe. The 19-year-old is talented, no doubt, yet Man United are not a calm place for learning right now. The back line is leaking goals, confidence is low, and mistakes get punished fast.
Heaven looked exposed, caught between learning his trade and trying to survive Premier League pressure. This was not new. Amorim already saw the warning signs against West Ham when he had to pull the youngster off at half-time.
Ignoring that lesson has only made the noise louder. Fans are asking why the manager keeps putting a teenager in the firing line. At the moment, the team clearly needs stability first.
🚨🎙️Nemanja Vidic on Ayden Heaven:
“Rio raved about Leny, but Heaven is the one nobody’s ready for. Snaps lines with one pass, no drama, no fear. Put Leny–Licha–Heaven in a back 3 and watch most attackers start praying. Arsenal let him go… Manchester United just turned it into… pic.twitter.com/D8EQiG3pgV
— Mal (@UtdMaI) December 12, 2025
Ruben Amorim Under Fire After Familiar Errors
The bigger issue sits with Amorim’s stubborn trust in his system. He wants to stay loyal to his shape, even when the players do not fit the moment. Heaven is being asked to anchor a defence that lacks cover and rhythm.
That is unfair on the player and risky for the team. Man Utd are struggling as a unit, and defensive errors are becoming routine. Good managers protect young players during tough spells.
Right now, Amorim is doing the opposite. Bournemouth sensed fear and pressed hard, knowing mistakes would come. They were right. This is not about blaming Heaven. It is about timing and responsibility. Amorim must adapt, or this pattern will keep repeating. The PL does not wait for lessons to sink in.
Author’s opinion:
Amorim needs to shield his young players and fix the structure first. Talent grows with care, not constant exposure to chaos.
As featured on ManUNews.com