Gary Neville has expressed a harsh critique of Ruben Amorim’s current Manchester United setup, specifically calling the use of Mason Mount as a wing-back “ridiculous.”
Neville has voiced his concerns about United’s future, questioning the club’s trajectory under Amorim’s management.
Manchester United faced their third defeat in six Premier League matches this season, falling 3-1 to Brentford on Saturday, failing to build on the momentum from their previous week’s victory over Chelsea. Under Amorim, the team has yet to secure back-to-back wins in the league.
“I’m very worried,” he expressed on The Gary Neville Podcast.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“The recent performance and result against Brentford puts a different light on the Chelsea game, making it seem less favorable due to the sending off. That’s how football works,” he remarked.
“Many United fans, myself included, left the stadium after the Brentford match believing that with Sunderland at home next week, we had a real chance to secure nine points in quick succession and position ourselves well in the top six or eight.”
“However, the performance against Brentford was deeply concerning and disappointing.”
“For the first time, I sensed through the players’ expressions and body language that some may be doubting the system and the strategy,” Neville noted.
“There was a concerning instance in the game that I had previously warned about on my podcast two or three weeks ago, specifically that Mason Mount ended up playing at left wing-back.”
“Sticking to a game plan is important, but if a coach is inflexible with that plan, it can undermine the team’s objectives.”
“But placing Mason Mount at left wing-back, especially at the end of the Brentford match, is simply unacceptable,” he added. “I cannot comprehend watching Mount in that position—it’s utterly absurd.”
“At times, I found it challenging to see him play in his preferred role, but to put him in a left wing-back position is preposterous. Absolutely preposterous.”
Amorim’s Lack of Room for Excuses
Since taking charge, Amorim has seen Manchester United win only nine out of 33 Premier League matches and is still seeking his first consecutive wins after nearly 10 months in the role.
“Amorim has had a pre-season and an interlude between matches because the team isn’t involved in European competition. Yet, the performances remain woeful,” Neville pointed out.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“The results so far are devastating from Manchester United’s perspective. The investment made has been significant, and I’m noticing alarming issues that simply cannot be ignored.”
“I’m genuinely worried because although the manager is a talented coach with a strong record in Portugal, things are not coming together for him here.”
“We’ll see what happens next Saturday against Sunderland. If they struggle in that match, it could lead to serious inquiries about the ownership. They brought in a young manager to implement a completely different system, and if they find themselves hovering around 14th to 16th place in October, that pattern will define them.
“It will raise serious questions, and the manager will find himself under immense pressure. Recent events with Graham Potter highlight how quickly things can change. This anxiety is building, especially with the upcoming match next week.”
“A win is imperative at Old Trafford on Saturday against Sunderland.”