Manchester United's woeful form persisted with a defeat to Manchester City on derby day. And doubts have been cast over Ruben Amorim and his squad's capabilities.
Pep Guardiola's City dominated their rivals 3-0 on Sunday, with Phil Foden's header and an Erling Haaland brace sealing the victory. The Red Devils, having clinched just one win this season, find themselves in a precarious 14th spot in the Premier League, piling pressure on head coach Amorim. Following the match, United icon Gary Neville singled out one player for criticism. Jose Mourinho's comments earlier in the summer echoed after Amorim's post-match remarks too, as Express Football updates you with the latest from Old Trafford.
Gary Neville lambasts £50m midfielderIn the derby defeat, Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte was ineffectual and was subbed off at the 80-minute mark, with United's fate already decided. The 24-year-old, who transferred from PSG last summer, could cost up to £50million with additional fees.
Neville, dissecting the match on his The Gary Neville Podcast, targeted United's midfielders, particularly Ugarte, stating he isn't fit to wear the club's shirt despite his hefty transfer fee.
"The midfield is a massive problem, and we've known that. United fans know that," the former United defender remarked. "Ugarte and Fernandes today, I think you mentioned it early, about an hour before the game, that Ugarte and Fernandes played in this fixture last year from start to finish, and United won the game, but Ugarte is not good enough."
During his post-match press conference, Amorim appeared defiant when questioned about why he hasn't modified his tactical approach despite the club's clearly disappointing results. Remarks made by former United manager Mourinho earlier this summer have now come back into focus, with the Portuguese boss criticising any head coach who refuses to adapt.
"There are coaches who try things that don't work and fail, but they say, 'I died with my idea.' If you die with your idea, you're stupid. Coaches have to adapt their ideas to what they have," Mourinho stated.
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Amorim's press conference declaration perhaps fits under Mourinho's widely-shared observation, as he insisted: "I won't change my philosophy. If they (the United hierarchy) want it changed, you change the man. I am not going to change my philosophy. I will play my way until I want to change.
"Guys, I understand [the questions] and I accept it is not a record you should have at Man United. But there are a lot of things that you have no idea about what happen in the last months."
Amorim and Ugarte weren't the only figures to face criticism following the defeat to City. Speaking on Sky Sports, former United midfielder Roy Keane targeted left-back Luke Shaw for his display after the England international bore some responsibility for Foden's opening goal.
"United are throwing money and if these are brilliant coaches, you are going, 'When are you going to coach these players to make them better?' Because some of the decision-making, it's just all wrong," Keane declared.
"Shaw for the first goal, so Shaw is an international footballer. For him to get caught out like that. I think Shaw has been getting away with murder for years at United. Always injured, never quite fit.
"We make excuses and then he gets a few games under his belt and then he's making decisions like he doesn't even want to tackle people."
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