Ruben Amorim is coming under increased pressure at Manchester United amid their poor start to the 2025/26 season

Ruben Amorim is under pressure at Manchester United and that big questions will be asked if they suffer defeat to Chelsea next weekend.

The Reds were well beaten in Sunday’s derby against a Manchester City side who had lost their previous two matches. Phil Foden’s first-half goal was followed up by an Erling Haaland double in the second half – resulting in a 3-0 defeat for United at the hands of their bitter rivals.

Amorim‘s struggling squad have only managed to secure one victory this season – a narrow 3-2 win over newly promoted Burnley. United have also experienced a disastrous League Cup exit at the hands of League Two outfit Grimsby Town and are reeling from their worst season in the Premier League era.

There are growing concerns over Amorim’s position after another abysmal defeat. He believes pressure will only grow if United suffer defeat at home to Chelsea next Saturday (5:30pm kick-off).

“I think there will be some pressure applied to the manager and his rigidity of sticking with the system,“City have beaten them well and comfortably. United had some good moments in the game – the first 15 minutes and the first five minutes of the second half. City, in big moments, have had better players. Foden, Doku, Haaland have stood out.

“There have been times when I have seen United lose this type of match when I feel angry and frustrated. I just feel nothing, which is even worse.

“This has been a nothing of a performance. United have just been beaten. With Chelsea next week, another defeat and big questions would start to be asked.”

Amorim, meanwhile, has insisted that if United want to change their playing style, they will have to change manager. “Guys, I understand that and I accept,” he said post-match on Sunday. “It is not a record you should have in Manchester United. There are a lot of things – you have no idea what happened during these months – but I accept that. I am not going to change.

“When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man. We will talk about that every game that we lose. I don’t believe in that, in the system, or whatever. I believe in my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change.

“My message is that I am going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club. That was always the same message.

Ruben Amorim: Manchester United will have to sack me to change my system

“There are a lot of things you have no idea what happened during these months, but I accept that it is not a record you should have in Manchester United,” said Amorim. “But I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.

“We will talk about that [formation] in every game that we lose. I don’t believe that it is in the system, or whatever. I believe in my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change.”

While Amorim saw positive signs from his team against City, the goals they conceded were poor defensively. United now have made their worst start to a Premier League season after four games since 1992-93 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Amorim had suggested he would speak to the club about his future during the international break and question marks will remain over his tenure while United are in the bottom half of the table.

“I understand everything. That is normal, that is normal with the results, I accept that,” he said. “I see that we are doing better but the results don’t show that. Again, I remember last year we played at my former club [Sporting Lisbon] against City. We won 4-1.

“It was not near the opportunities, the way we control the game compared to this game against City. But in certain moments we were not better than City. I understand that. It is hard and the record says everything. I understand.

“My message is that I am going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club. That was always the same message. The rest is not my decision. Until I am here, I will do my best. I really want to win games. I am suffering more than them.”

Fulham manager Silva recently outlined how to play against United before recording a draw against them, saying their set-up allows opposition to “create superiority in the middle”. Working as a pundit on the BBC, Robbie Savage suggested his Forest Green Rovers team would relish playing against United in the FA Cup, such is their current form.

Keane, describing United’s problems, added: “My worry is maybe the players haven’t got that much faith in it. As much as the manager is saying ‘this is where we are going’, as the results don’t come and you are getting beaten by the better teams, he is making loads of changes. It is like they are going round in circles.

“We gave him the benefit of the doubt when he first came in. You talk about the system but the manager is sticking to his guns he is not budging. You look at the results and the points per game, goals for and against. It is not good reading. It does concern me.”

Ruben Amorim has insisted Manchester United will have to sack him if they want to change his 3-4-3 system that failed again at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden’s first-half opener and Erling Haaland’s two second-half goals saw out a straightforward victory for Manchester City, meaning that United have recorded just eight Premier League victories during Amorim’s time in charge.

Former United captain Roy Keane, speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports, suggested that players have lost faith in Amorim’s formation and way of playing. And current managers such as Fulham’s Marco Silva have been talking this season about how to get the better of United’s system.

Advertisement

“There are a lot of things you have no idea what happened during these months, but I accept that it is not a record you should have in Manchester United,” said Amorim. “But I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.

“We will talk about that [formation] in every game that we lose. I don’t believe that it is in the system, or whatever. I believe in my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change.”

While Amorim saw positive signs from his team against City, the goals they conceded were poor defensively. United now have made their worst start to a Premier League season after four games since 1992-93 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Amorim had suggested he would speak to the club about his future during the international break and question marks will remain over his tenure while United are in the bottom half of the table.

“I understand everything. That is normal, that is normal with the results, I accept that,” he said. “I see that we are doing better but the results don’t show that. Again, I remember last year we played at my former club [Sporting Lisbon] against City. We won 4-1.

Advertisement

“It was not near the opportunities, the way we control the game compared to this game against City. But in certain moments we were not better than City. I understand that. It is hard and the record says everything. I understand.

“My message is that I am going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club. That was always the same message. The rest is not my decision. Until I am here, I will do my best. I really want to win games. I am suffering more than them.”

Fulham manager Silva recently outlined how to play against United before recording a draw against them, saying their set-up allows opposition to “create superiority in the middle”. Working as a pundit on the BBC, Robbie Savage suggested his Forest Green Rovers team would relish playing against United in the FA Cup, such is their current form.

Keane, describing United’s problems, added: “My worry is maybe the players haven’t got that much faith in it. As much as the manager is saying ‘this is where we are going’, as the results don’t come and you are getting beaten by the better teams, he is making loads of changes. It is like they are going round in circles.

Advertisement

“We gave him the benefit of the doubt when he first came in. You talk about the system but the manager is sticking to his guns he is not budging. You look at the results and the points per game, goals for and against. It is not good reading. It does concern me.”

It was an emotional afternoon at the Etihad Stadium as the news of Ricky Hatton’s death filtered through to fans, who knew the former world boxing champion as one of their own.

“I had extra motivation going into the game, it was for him and his family,” said Foden. “It was all for him and we are delighted with the result.”

City manager Pep Guardiola added: “I’ve been 10 years here, there’s a lot of minutes silence, I don’t remember one so so so intense like today. I want to say thank you so much for Man United fans for the way they behave and they applaud.

“It was a special, special moment. Of course, there’s no words that can explain the pain that the family can feel right now for this loss. I know how incredible Man City fan he is, he could live the bad moments and the good moments in the last 10, 15 years. I think he will enjoy it. I know for the fans how close he was.”