Ruben Amorim said he will not change his preferred 3-4-3 system after Manchester United suffered a heavy defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday, a result that intensified questions about his methods and prompted public criticism from former United captain Roy Keane.
Manchester City beat United as Phil Foden opened the scoring and Erling Haaland scored twice, including a chip over goalkeeper Altay Bayindir early in the second half and a later one-on-one finish, to secure a comprehensive victory. United showed occasional promise through Bryan Mbuemo and Amad but were outplayed for long periods at the Etihad Stadium.
Amorim reiterated in his post-match news conference that he would not alter his tactical approach. "I'm not going to change," he said. "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 we lose. I play my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change."
The defeat left United with just eight Premier League victories since Amorim took charge. The manager’s insistence on persisting with the 3-4-3 — a system he employed during a high-profile win at the Etihad last season that had raised hopes among supporters — came amid broader scrutiny of his team selection and in-game adjustments.
Keane, speaking on Sky Sports after the match, questioned whether United players had bought into Amorim’s methods. "We were told the manager needed a pre-season, his own players and they have spent over £200m so we keep making excuses. When are we going to see signs?" Keane asked. "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."
United managerial decisions were also scrutinised in match commentary after Bruno Fernandes, deployed in a deeper midfield role as an attacking midfielder or No. 8, struggled to influence the game. Defensively, United were repeatedly tested by Haaland’s movement and City’s cohesion.
The loss comes on the same day as the death of former boxer Ricky Hatton, an event noted by observers during coverage of the fixture. United now face Chelsea at Old Trafford next weekend before travelling to face Brentford, continuing a run of challenging fixtures.
Amorim’s tenure has been marked by a mixture of high-profile results and inconsistent performances. After taking charge from the start of his time at Old Trafford, he oversaw the club through a summer transfer window that saw significant spending aimed at reshaping the squad. Supporters and pundits have pointed to the heavy investment as a factor heightening expectations.
While supporters and analysts debate whether a tactical shift or personnel changes are the solution, Amorim framed the current phase as part of a longer-term plan. He declined to link immediate results to any imminent change in philosophy and said he would modify his approach only when he decided it was necessary.
United now enter a stretch of fixtures that will test whether Amorim’s steadfastness can be justified by results. The club’s performance against Chelsea and Brentford will be watched closely by fans, former players and commentators seeking indications of progress or further evidence that changes are required.