Manchester United’s season descended into chaos once again after a humiliating defeat at Old Trafford, and the backlash has been immediate. Among the most vocal critics was former club captain and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who tore into head coach Rúben Amorim’s tactical decisions. Neville described the manager’s approach as “one of the most foolish things a coach can ever do,” holding him directly responsible for the collapse against League Two side Grimsby Town.
The shock loss, already being described by many supporters as the lowest point of the campaign, has only deepened doubts about Amorim’s ability to lead United forward. Neville reminded viewers that he had warned early on that the Portuguese tactician wasn’t the right man for the job, only to be dismissed at the time. “This result proves everything I said,” he declared. “Amorim’s decisions practically handed the game away.”
What unfolded on the pitch left the home crowd stunned. Rather than seeing a side hungry to dominate, fans watched a team that looked uninspired and bereft of ideas. Neville placed the blame squarely on Amorim’s choices—questionable selections in the starting lineup and an unwillingness to adapt as the game slipped away. It wasn’t just the tactical shortcomings that stood out, but also the lack of spirit and intensity from the players, which suggested that faith in the manager’s methods may already be crumbling.
The mood at Old Trafford captured the crisis in full. Boos rang out at the final whistle, angry chants echoed across the stands, and the players’ body language showed nothing but frustration. Supporters online voiced the same despair, with one post summing it up: “We play without belief, without energy. Even the players don’t trust themselves anymore.” The statistics from the match added further humiliation—possession without penetration, directionless passing, and barely a threat on goal. For a club of United’s stature, it was a performance that screamed of decline.
Neville’s harsh assessment is now being echoed more widely. While Amorim arrived with a glowing reputation from his success in Portugal, the Premier League appears to have exposed his limitations. According to Neville, this wasn’t just a tactical misstep—it was proof that Amorim underestimated the gravity of the occasion. “Mistakes are part of football,” Neville said, “but this was different. He set up like someone who didn’t grasp the magnitude of managing Manchester United.”
Attention now turns to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the United hierarchy, who face mounting pressure to take action. The defeat to Grimsby wasn’t just another poor result—it was a humiliation that has intensified scrutiny of the manager’s future. If the players continue to look lost and unmotivated, the calls for change may soon become impossible for the board to ignore.
