Manchester United fans have erupted in anger at Ruben Amorim after his decision to field two players they branded “disgraceful” during the 3-0 humiliation against Manchester City. The Etihad Stadium was buzzing ahead of the derby, but by the final whistle, the celebration was entirely blue as Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to victory.
Erling Haaland once again proved United’s tormentor, scoring twice to take his tally to eight goals in just as many derby appearances. For City, it was a dominant return to form. For United, however, it highlighted the same old problems – huge investments in attack while glaring weaknesses in other areas continue to drag the team down.
The statistics speak for themselves: United have found the net from open play only once in their opening four league matches. But it isn’t just about their lack of goals. Fans were left furious with Amorim’s persistence in selecting two underperforming players who, in their view, should never have started the derby.
Supporters are also increasingly frustrated with Amorim’s stubbornness in sticking to his 3-4-3 setup, the same formation that oversaw United’s worst Premier League finish. Many argue he is placing blind faith in individuals who look reliable on paper but consistently fail to deliver when it matters.
Manuel Ugarte is a prime example. His 80 minutes on the pitch were riddled with errors, as he looked overwhelmed against Tijjani Reijnders and company. Luke Shaw, once hailed as the country’s best left-back, also endured a torrid afternoon, winning just one ground duel and one aerial battle while being easily beaten by Jeremy Doku in the buildup to City’s opener.
The pressure is now mounting heavily on Amorim, who has managed only eight wins in his last 30 outings. His selections, many feel, are only making things worse. Fans did not hold back online, with one post reading: “Same story again. Ugarte can’t handle the ball. Shaw loses it with a bad touch. Goal conceded. Amorim is a fool for playing them.” Another blasted: “Playing Shaw and Ugarte is just stupid… AMORIM OUT!”
More angry reactions followed, including: “The goal came from Ugarte and Shaw being dreadful again. Amorim’s subs made no sense, and he kept both on the pitch. Clueless.” Another summed it up with: “Ugarte & Shaw is the hill Amorim chose to die on,” while one furious fan concluded: “The biggest crime this week is starting Shaw and Ugarte.”
With United languishing in 14th place, faith in Amorim is dwindling fast. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS hierarchy must now decide how much longer they are willing to back him, especially with tough clashes against Chelsea and Liverpool looming on the horizon.
