Micah Richards insisted darker days may be on the way for Man United, despite Ruben Amorim’s side currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table.
The Portuguese manager took the reins at Old Trafford at the beginning of November and has won just two of his eight league games at the club.
They are rotting in the bottom half of the table, closer to the relegation zone (seven points) than the top four (13 points), amid a four-match losing streak.
They bowed out of the EFL Cup last month after losing to Spurs in the quarter-finals, meaning they only have two real chances of winning silverware this season: the FA Cup (where they will face Arsenal in the third round) and the Europa League. .
However, speaking of The rest is football. With Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, Richards explained that United fans may have to weather a new storm under Amorim.
Shearer asked: ‘How long will (Amorim) continue to persist with his system? Because clearly the players he has on that team can’t play the way he wants?
Ruben Amorim has a miserable 36 per cent win rate since joining Man United in November
The Red Devils have scored just 21 league goals, fewer than Wolves (31) and Leicester (22).
Micah Richards insisted Amorim should not change his tactics despite United’s poor form
‘As long as I can. “I don’t think he’ll change his ways at all, because then he’ll admit defeat,” Richards responded.
Shearer questioned whether Amorim should tend to his players and change his style of football to extract the best performances from them, an approach for which United managers have been criticized in the past.
‘Actually? When you say he admits defeat, isn’t he saying “Well, okay, I’ve tried it that way and my players can’t play that way, so I’ll have to change for the benefit of the team”? the Newcastle legend asked.
Richards stood his ground and argued that United have tried every formation under the sun, and for Amorim to change tactics now would be a mistake. He added that the Red Devils may have to endure some growing pains before they improve.
“It’s not that United were great three years ago, and then Ten Hag came in and was really bad. But they haven’t played well for years and they’ve tried every possible formation,” he said.
‘So if you’re a manager, you’re not going to doubt yourself or go into a system you don’t know. I think this is going to take a long time, obviously the players are not good enough to fit into their system, but if it starts to change now…’
‘But they’re getting worse, Micah!’ Shearer interrupted.
“I think sometimes you have to get worse before you move on, because they’ve tried everything,” Richards insisted.
United have not won consecutive league games all season; the last one was in May 2024.
Alan Shearer questioned whether Amorim should adapt his tactics to his group of players
Regarding this month’s transfer window, Lineker argued that Amorim needs players who fit into their system if United are to save their season.
They are on course to eclipse their worst points tally in a Premier League campaign. After 19 games, United have achieved 22 points; At this rate, Amorim’s wrestlers would finish with 44 points and surpass their previous record of 58 in 2021-22.
“We know there are never too many transfers in the January window, but if there is going to be a club, it has to be Man United,” Lineker said.
“(Amorim) needs players who can play the way he wants, and if they don’t come quickly, they will struggle.”
“Not only do you need players on the inside, you also need players on the outside,” Shearer added.
Richard agreed, arguing that United do not have the personnel in their squad to emulate Amorim’s dynamic playing style at Sporting, which required strong pressing and fluid movement between positions.
‘You’re right. “If you look at how (Sporting) played in Portugal, how anyone thought this group of players could do what (Amorim) is trying to do, it’s impossible,” Richards said.
‘Man United has no legs. That’s Alan’s point, you’d probably tweak things a little bit, play this way until the end of the season, and then once (Amorim) gets (his) players in, this is what (he’s) going to do. do.
Gary Lineker believes United must be active in the transfer window to save the season
“But he came in, he got that big win against Manchester City in the Champions League, Manchester United fans are going crazy on social media saying, ‘Oh my God, this is how we’re going to play.’ He’s got no players to do.” So what are you all waiting for?
“I bet you’re thinking, ‘What the hell have I gotten myself into, both on and off the field?'” Shearer said.