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RUBEN AMORIM STRUGGLES AS MAN UTD BRUNO FERNANDES ISSUE PERSISTS

Manchester United's draw with Forest exposed deep flaws in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 system. The tactical analysis reveals a Bruno Fernandes dilemma, the need for Kobbie Mainoo, and a critical shortage of effective wing-backs at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim struggles as Man Utd Bruno Fernandes issue persists
Amorim battles unseen challenge as Fernandes issue hits Man Utd - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Manchester United briefly appeared to be regaining control of the situation. Three consecutive victories, the first in almost two years, had sparked discussions about development, momentum, and Ruben Amorim's beginning to settle in.

However, Saturday's 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest—which would have been a crushing loss had it not been for Amad Diallo's incredible late goal—served as a sobering reminder that United's issues go far beyond a few recent performances.

The team is still unable to dominate games for extended periods of time. When under stress, they nevertheless appear delicate. United still feels like a work in progress, a side divided between tradition and change, despite all the buzz about Amorim's new ideas and enthusiasm.

In addition to stopping momentum, the draw at Forest revealed Amorim's ungainly balance in their changing 3-4-3. When United dominates possession, the system may appear sleek, but when they are forced to defend in numbers and scrape and claw, it swiftly breaks down.

Bruno Fernandes, the captain, talisman, and possibly one of United's biggest tactical issues, is at the centre of it all. In light of that, here are three things to remember from United's concerning weekend.

The issue of Fernandes


As one of the two centre midfielders in Amorim's 3-4-3, Fernandes has been comparatively successful. His inventiveness and deft passing may be crucial when United is ahead and has possession of the ball. However, his presence in that role becomes a problem in more difficult away games, such as Forest.

He lacks the discipline to keep shape and the mobility to cover territory, leaving United's midfield vulnerable. It reminds me of Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea under Antonio Conte, who was a good football player but too light for the structure and energy needed in a two-man midfield. Chelsea gained balance and eventually won the Premier League as a result of Conte's choice to give preference to N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic.

For the time being, United might be able to use Fernandes in that capacity, particularly while playing weaker teams. However, Amorim might have to make the audacious decision to move Fernandes further forward or off the club entirely if he really wants to assemble a team that can contend for major awards.

Naturally, the issue is that promoting him could displace Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who both appear to be much more suited as inside forwards in this style. In addition, despite his tactical shortcomings, Fernandes is still a beloved goal scorer and talisman for United, one of the few players whose form has remained consistent over the past several tumultuous seasons.

However, if Amorim continues, so will his 3-4-3, and Fernandes will feel more and more out of place in it. Some will believe he's too excellent to drop and worth shoehorning into the side - but pushing him into a role that doesn't fit him could eventually cost United when it matters most.

Although it is a difficult puzzle to solve, the Red Devils must be prepared to omit even the largest piece if doing so makes the entire picture fit together better, if they genuinely want to be a top team once more.

Mainoo is essential.


One player must be a member of United's midfield if it is to be effective: Kobbie Mainoo. The 20-year-old gives United a unique combination of poise, agility, and intellect that they desperately lack. He possesses the discipline to defend his back line while gliding past a push and moving the ball forward purposefully.

You need balance, control, and vigour to make a 3-4-3 work. Mainoo meets all of those requirements, thus it makes perfect sense to partner him with a real holding midfielder like Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, or a summer acquisition like Carlos Baleba.

Many people have been perplexed by Amorim's choice to exclude him. Mainoo might be the difference in games where United finds it difficult to manage the pace. Mainoo provides rhythm, a sense of peace that lets others play, while Fernandes brings risk. Reintroducing the young player should be Amorim's first move if he wants to build a midfield that can dictate the game rather than just respond to it.

In addition to structure and discipline, two-man midfields require energy—the capacity to cover ground, press strategically, and recover swiftly during transitions. Amorim appears to be committed to partnering Casemiro with Fernandes, but that lineup just does not have the passion and agility needed to compete with the best.

Casemiro no longer possesses the legs necessary to control wide areas by himself, while Fernandes excels at creating chances and being creative rather than playing defence or recovering the ball. United's midfield, which is strong on paper but slow in practice, runs the risk of being overrun without a more energetic partner like Mainoo.

Wing-backs are required.


The other obvious problem is widespread. Wing-backs are crucial to Amorim's 3-4-3 because they can stretch the field and play smart defence. United currently lacks both.

The only obvious choice is Patrick Dorgu, although he has not always been reliable. Diogo Dalot, who is right-footed, is still filling in on the left, while Amad is being squandered at right wing-back. It is a clumsy arrangement that makes United much too vulnerable during transition and far too direct moving ahead.

Finding suitable wing-backs must be the focus of the January transfer window and the following summer if United is serious about making this formation work. Players with the ability to recover fast, deliver quality, and bomb forward. Last summer, they spent more than £200 million on forwards when it would have made much more sense to spend £50-100 million on two top-tier wing-backs.

They are now being connected to high-priced midfield players like Elliot Anderson and Baleba. However, the building will continue to collapse unless the flanks are fixed. The technique relies on balance, and Amorim will continue to try to construct a house without walls until United finds suitable wing-backs.

EX-CAPTAIN NEVILLE CLAIMS SUBSTITUTIONS MADE MANCHESTER UNITED "WORSE" AGAINST WOLVES

Gary Neville slams Ruben Amorim’s "weird" substitutions and tactical shifts after Manchester United's 1-1 draw with bottom-side Wolves.

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Was the halftime substitution a tactical error or an injury?

Gary Neville said that the performance of Manchester United in their match against winless Wolves was ‘the baddest of the bad.’

United would have moved fourth in the league with a win at Old Trafford last night, although Wolves, who had two points in 18 games before kickoff, ended their record of 11 straight losses with a 1-1 draw.

Amorim’s team had been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by a League Two team, Grimsby, in August, but Neville was convinced that United had hit rock bottom in a game that could have been even more one-sided were it not for two important saves by Senne Lammens.

“That was the baddest of the bad," the former United captain declared on the Gary Neville podcast.

“They weren’t just booed off at the final whistle. The fans waited in the stadium to continue to boo them. They’ve gone backwards.”

United had won at Newcastle 1-0 on Boxing Day, despite being plagued by an injury list that already lacked skipper Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, and Matthijs de Ligt, as well as three players on African Cup of Nations duty.

But they remained flat right from the first whistle, and the header by Ladislav Krejci just before the half bottled Joshua Zirkzee's deflected shot.

Amorim’s formation choice of 3-4-3 was brought into focus once more as the Portuguese opted to go back to his preferred tactic of four at the back against Newcastle.

“This isn’t right. I’ve watched enough of United over the last five or six weeks to know what looks right and what isn’t right,” Neville had declared 20 minutes into his commentary on Sky Sports.

“Because, when I see that we go back (to three at the back) after five minutes tonight, I’m thinking, no, Ruben, why have you done that?

"The manager has to look at that and think, I got that wrong. I complicated it."

However, Amorim decided to substitute Zirkzee at halftime and brought on an 18-year-old Jack Fletcher, who made his third appearance at the senior level.

Regarding substitutions made by Amorim, Neville further added, “They made Manchester United worse. Every single substitution was ridiculous.”

‘If Zirkzee was injured, and it was a tactical substitution, that was a very poor one.’ But Zirkzee isn't Eric Cantona, not by a long shot, and he had to get out there for physicality, for presence, for experience.”

SEE LISANDRO MARTINEZ’S FURIOUS REACTION AFTER MAN UTD’S SHOCK WOLVES DRAW

Lisandro Martinez demands more after Man Utd’s 1-1 draw with bottom-placed Wolves. United ended 2025 sixth in the Premier League.

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Martinez slams United’s tactical mistakes

Stand-in captain Lisandro Martinez was mad that Manchester United dropped points against Wolves, who are at the bottom of the league.

United came into the last game of 2025 after a good win against Newcastle on Boxing Day and were expected to easily beat Wolves.

Joshua Zirkzee scored first for United, but they didn't take their chances. Ladislav Krejci's header tied the game for Wolves, 1-1.

It was only their third point in 19 games, and it stopped their 11-game losing streak. United fans booed at the end of the game.

When Martinez was asked if it felt like a disappointing point, he said, 100 percent.

We are very disappointed. We can't keep drawing or losing points at home. We have to win.

We want to be at the top, competing with the best.

We can't drop points in games like this. We just have to accept it and be hungry for the next game.

Martinez was captain again because Bruno Fernandes is still recovering from an injury.

When United coach Ruben Amorim was asked about injured players for the game against Leeds on Sunday, he didn't give much away. Leeds are really wanting to beat United for the first time since 2010.

Martinez said to MUTV, You can either make excuses, or you can be strong and say, 'We're dropping points, so we need to go for the next one and show what we can do.'

We need to work together and do the easy things to get the three points.

United is in sixth place in the league at the end of 2025, only two points behind Liverpool for the last Champions League spot. Liverpool has a game in hand.

They could be in a better position if they had been better in both boxes. Leeds has been playing well lately, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin doing great up front.

Martinez added, It's about us. I don't like to think about other teams.

I'm thinking about what we can do to get better as a team every day, and we have to learn from this game.

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