“He’s the problem…” Paul Merson says Manchester United man could cost Europa League progression vs Real Sociedad

Paul Merson has claimed that one Manchester United man is “the problem” behind the torrid form at Old Trafford this season.

Manchester United are enduring one of the worst seasons of their history in the top flight, with the club currently sitting 15th in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag was sacked earlier in the season for his poor performances and replaced by Ruben Amorim, who was excelling at Portuguese club Sporting.

However, the 40-year-old head coach has struggled to replicate his success at Old Trafford thus far, with the difficulties he faces proving extremely difficult.

The team are struggling to adapt to Amorim’s preferred system, with many players looking uncomfortable in their new roles.

Despite the results so far, Amorim’s side still have the potential to make the season a success through the FA Cup or Europa League.

Last term, United finished poorly in the league but managed to end the season on a high by winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

However, there will be little chance of success in the cup competitions if United’s overall performances don’t improve and Amorim has been told to change his approach.

Merson says Amorim is the problem at United

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has claimed that Amorim is “the problem” at the club right now as he is persisting with a style that isn’t working.

The ex-midfielder believes that the only way that United can progress to the next round of the Europa League is by changing the way of play.

“Ruben Amorim is the problem at Manchester United,” Merson told Sky Sports. “The three at the back isn’t working the way he’d planned. So, change it.

“He’s not helping the players, he’s helping himself by just keeping it the way he’s been used to playing all his managerial career or most of it.

“At the moment, they need to start playing a different way because they won’t beat Real Sociedad, playing like this.

“I don’t think they will move Amorim on either. They don’t have the money to start all over again. They’ll have to go with this man. But my worry is, we all know that they can’t play three at the back, we know they’re all over the place.

“They haven’t got the feet and the legs in midfield. So change it. He [Amorim] keeps on sending these players out to fail and, at the moment, that’s what’s happening every other week.”

Amorim says that he’s willing to adjust

Things are not working for Amorim and United right now but it is not due to the head coach being inflexible in his approach.

It is easy to forget that this United team were not doing much better before the switch to the back three under previous boss Ten Hag.

Amorim has explained that he is willing to adapt to his players and change things within his structure to try and improve things.

“Guys, make no mistake, I just want to win games. I teach what I know, that is clear with me,” he told journalists last week.

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“When I say I stick to my beliefs that is the way we train, the way I see football and I try to transmit that to the players.

“It’s nothing like I will not adapt because we adapt, [for example] sometimes we have goal-kicks with short plays, and then in some games we do long balls because the opposition is pressing a lot.

“I try to adapt to the players that I have. My focus is to win games, especially in this moment.”

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