Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insisted he had to establish a formation at Old Trafford before asking his squad to demonstrate tactical flexibility as succumbing to media pressure would have been “the end” for him.
Amorim departed from a back three with wing-backs for the first time in Friday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle and instead fielded a conventional back four with two holding midfielders.
The Portuguese boss memorably once said not even the Pope could force him to change his system. But Amorim, with United now just three points adrift of a Champions League place, insisted he was never as obstinate as he appeared.
Ruben Amorim
“When I came here last season, I understood maybe I don’t have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s match against relegation-threatened Wolves at Old Trafford.
“We were trying to build an identity. Today is a different moment. We don’t have a lot of players, and we need to adapt, so they understand why we are changing.”
The 40-year-old former Sporting Lisbon boss added: “When you [the media] talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand I’m changing because of you and that is the end for the manager.
“When we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to change. We are going to become a better team because when all the players return, we are not going to play with three defenders all the time.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham ground out a much-needed three points for the under-fire Thomas Frank with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace. Archie Gray was Spurs’ unlikely match winner at Selhurst Park with his first senior goal.
6th
Man Utd’s position in the EPL points table
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