Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim isn’t hiding from criticism, he’s owning it, after Gary Neville described United’s current playing style as “robotic,” Amorim admitted the legendary defender was “quite fair” in his assessment.
Speaking after the 0-0 Manchester Derby, Neville had said that players today are “micromanaged within an inch of their lives” and lack the freedom and spark of previous generations. Amorim, who took over United in a rebuilding phase, didn’t disagree.
“In this game, they are seeing the games and in our moment, with the season that we are doing, we have to accept it and this is quite fair,” he told Sky Sports. “Sometimes at the end of the game, you don’t like it because you are trying really hard to change things and they are talking about your players. But then, one day later, you can understand.”
Rather than defend the current tactical rigidity outlined by Gary Neville, Ruben Amorim explained it as a product of football’s evolution. Today’s managers, he said, rely less on individual brilliance and more on deep tactical preparation and data-driven planning.
“There was an evolution. You can like it or not,” Amorim said. “Now you have all the games from the opponent, detailed analysis from your departments. You have to be better tactically.”
The Portuguese coach even referenced conversations with Darren Fletcher about how different things were under Sir Alex Ferguson. Back then, individual flair was king. Today, it’s all about structure first, then flair second.
“We need to have an idea of how to play as a team and then expect the individual part to help us,” Amorim added. “Because in the end, that is the crucial point to make a difference in the game.”
Amorim’s response wasn’t defensive, it was reflective. He’s clearly aware of what the critics are saying, and he’s owning the challenge of finding the right balance between tactical discipline and letting players express themselves. It’s not a finished product, but he knows it, and he’s not pretending otherwise.
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