Gary Neville explains what Rúben Amorim must change at Manchester United despite ‘not liking’ his players

Gary Neville has explained what Rúben Amorim must do at Manchester United despite the fact that he might not even like this current crop of players.

Rúben Amorim’s first two months at Manchester United have been anything but straightforward since replacing Erik ten Hag.

Appointed in mid-November with United struggling in 13th place in the Premier League and securing just one win in the Europa League, the 40-year-old set about the challenge of steadying a club in turmoil.

There have been glimpses of progress, including impressive away wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, but inconsistency remains a major concern. Under Amorim, United have won nine of their first 19 matches, losing eight and drawing two.

Off the pitch, the challenges have been just as demanding. Three senior attackers have departed on loan during the winter transfer window without replacements being brought in, while Lisandro Martínez could miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

However, there have been some positives. United finally addressed their long-standing need for a left wing-back by signing Patrick Dorgu, while 18-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven arrives as a promising addition for the future.

Neville hands Amorim fresh advice

Former United left-back and club captain Gary Neville has explained he feels he must simplify the football in order to accommodate his players, even if he doesn’t actually like them.

“I think he’s got to simplify it a little bit,” Neville explained on his podcast. “Whilst he might not like [Rasmus] Højlund, he might not think [Joshua] Zirkzee is great, and he might not like other players, he’s got to pick the players that he has, stick with them.

“They’re the players that he’s been served. He knew that Manchester United were not going to be prolific in the transfer window in January. Everyone knew that when he came in. It was quite clear.

“I had the chance to him in that first interview, he said you’re going to have to basically have these players for the rest of the season. Now, he’s obviously lost Rashford. He’s now got a left wing back in, so he might think he’s slightly better off.

“But it looked yesterday like Lisandro Martínez might have picked up a bad [injury] when he sort of got stretched off. That’s obviously an important player for them. He’s not been playing brilliantly, but he’s a personality in that left channel.

“So you’re absolutely right, it can’t keep going on as it is. They have to somehow start to play better, but where’s it coming from? Because, I have to say, at this moment in time, it’s a sorry situation.”

Amorim must get creative with his side

Despite Neville’s words, it feels as if Amorim must start getting creative with his players and use them in potentially unorthodox positions.

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Amorim has not been afraid to try fresh ideas, with Kobbie Mainoo having played as a centre-forward against Crystal Palace, although not all of his trials on the pitch have paid off.

However, with Dorgu coming in as a new left wing-back, this gives Amorim the freedom of having a more settled back five, meaning players could have more of a licence to experiment and be more free in the forwrad line.

United have struggled due to their wing-backs not being creative enough, but should Dorgu and Amad start playing as the wide players instead of Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, with the latter potentially slipping into the back three, Amorim may be able to use his midfielders and forwards more expressively.

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