Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has made a strong pledge about his tactics and football style, following his side’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City.
United humiliated by City
United have slipped to 14th place in the table after suffering a second league defeat of the 2025/26 campaign.
Phil Foden gave City the lead in the 18th minute by heading home after Jremey Doku easily danced past the United defenders.
City made it 2-0 shortly after the break, through Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker would go on to get his second and his team’s third of the game, racing through on goal before beating Altay Bayindir.
In his post-match TV interviews, Amorim blamed United’s failure to be clinical for the defeat.
Amorm later spoke to reporters in his presser and was inevitably asked about his system and whether he would consider changing it to perhaps inspire an uptick in performances and results.
The defiant Portuguese coach made it clear that he will stick to his guns and won’t be pushed into compromising on what he believes.
Amorim’s presser
Amorim said about the result, “If you look at the goals, we can avoid those types of goals. With Doku, we have almost everyone behind the ball and we could be more aggressive. The second goal – in the moment of the game that we are pressing City – we suffered a goal in the throw-in, when we want to recover the ball instead of covering the space and then to win the ball, we let two City players win against one. The approach we had in that play we can avoid, and we can close our goal.”
“And then the third goal…Haaland has all the space. A confusion with our players and then he has all the space to play.”
“So in these moments, I felt that if you look at the goals, there are moments we could avoid, and that is the key of the games – to take advantage of these moments. They took it and we didn’t in transitions. Great shot from Bryan [Mbeumo], but in those moments they were better than us.”
Asked whether he may consider changing his ideas because rival teams are finding it easy to play against United, Amorim answered, “I understand that and I accept. It’s not a record that you should have at Manchester United. There are a lot of things you have no idea what has happened during these months, but I accept that.”
“But I’m not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man. We’ll talk about that every game that we lose. I don’t believe in that – the system or whatever. I play my way and I’m going to play my way until I want to change.”
On a section of fans starting to lose faith in him, Amorim remarked, “That is normal with the results. Again, I accept that. I don’t see it that way. I see that we are doing better but then the results don’t show that.”
“I remember last year, at my former club, we played City and we won 4-1. It was nowhere near the opportunities and the way we controlled the game compared to today. But in certain moments, we were not better than City. I understand that, and it’s hard. The record says everything.”
Asked to issue a message to supporters, Amorim stated, “My message is that I’m going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club. That was always the same message, and then it’s not my decision the rest.”
“So, while I’m here, I will do my best. I really want to win games. I’m suffering more than them.”
On playing Bruno Fernandes out of his natural position and therefore weakening the team, Amorim replied, “I understand how football is and results will dictate all the narratives. Against Arsenal, you think we played well? You think we were the better team? Do you think [Declan] Rice, Martin [Odegaard] and Martin [Zubimendi] are top midfielders? We played with two, they played with three [midfielders].”
“One was Casemiro, the other was Bruno. Sometimes it’s the dynamic of the team. Sometimes it’s an opportunity that you score. I see that way and I know that it’s really hard for people and the fans don’t want to hear me saying these things. I know that they’re not going to listen to anything and they’re going to be upset with that.”
“I cannot do nothing. I’m trying to be rational and I don’t lie to myself. So I see the record, I understand the frustration of everybody and I understand any decision that came with that. But that decision about the two midfielders, the pair, Kobbie Mainoo…I understand all these narratives.”
“But when I look at certain games, we play with two. It’s the same thing.”
United are back in action on Saturday, 20 September, when they host Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
