A defensive Ruben Amorim insisted after Manchester United’s 3-0 derby defeat at Manchester City that his system will remain, so “you have to change the man” if his 3-4-3 formation is to be discarded. The head coach also suggested recent events behind closed doors have hampered the team.
City defeated United 3‑0 with Phil Foden’s 18th-minute header and Erling Haaland’s strikes on 53 and 68 minutes. It leaves Amorim’s side on four points after four games and his overall record as 31 from 31 games.
Amorim denied the team’s shape may be adjusted to try to improve results and he pointed to unknown occurrences as a factor in the form.
“It is not a record you should have at Manchester United,” he said. “You have no idea what happened [privately] during these [past] months but I accept that. I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.
“We talk about this every game that we lose. I believe in my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change.
“I see that we are doing better but the results don’t show that.
I remember last year I played with my former club [Sporting Lisbon] against City [in the Champions League] – we won 4-1. It was not near the same amount of opportunities – the way we controlled that game compared to today. In certain moments we were not better than City – I understand that. It is hard and the record says everything. I understand.”
Amorim was asked what the message is to any fans losing faith in him. “That I am going to give everything,” the 40-year-old said. “I will do everything – always thinking about what is best for the club. That was always the same message. It is not my decision, the rest. I really want to win games. I am suffering more than them.”
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Pep Guardiola praised Haaland, who has five goals in four City games. “Erling never disappoints us,” the manager said. “He is a special player.”