Former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been branded "arrogant" by Premier League legend Alan Shearer, following his dismissal earlier this month. Amorim was sacked after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United, not solely due to the result but after a press conference outburst that exposed tensions with the club's hierarchy.
Dramatic Turnaround Under Interim Leadership
Results initially remained sluggish under caretaker Darren Fletcher, with a draw against Burnley and an FA Cup loss to Brighton. However, since Michael Carrick took interim charge for the rest of the season, Manchester United have undergone a spectacular transformation. A stunning 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford was followed by a thrilling 3-2 win against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, lifting fans' spirits with two impressive performances.
These back-to-back triumphs have propelled the Red Devils up to fourth place in the Premier League, reigniting hopes of a return to the Champions League. Carrick's tactical shift from Amorim's laboured 3-4-3 formation to a more fluid 4-2-3-1 setup appears to have been pivotal in this resurgence.
Shearer's Scathing Critique of Amorim's Stubbornness
Alan Shearer, the Premier League's all-time top scorer, has publicly condemned Amorim's approach, attributing his downfall to sheer arrogance. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer expressed disbelief at Amorim's refusal to adapt his tactics despite poor performances.
"What on earth is Ruben Amorim sat doing, thinking, looking at those two performances? I mean honestly, I don't know what he'll be thinking," Shearer remarked. "It's absolutely crazy to not change his formation. The arrogance to say, 'No, I'm not doing any other thing. This is my way or the highway.'"
Shearer continued, "To not even shift or to accept that this is probably not working, 'Maybe I should try something else.' He put all his eggs into that basket, and if that didn't work, he was done. And it didn't."
Player Revivals Highlight Tactical Improvement
Gary Neville has highlighted the performances of key players as evidence of United's improvement post-Amorim. On his Sky Sports podcast, Neville noted that Amorim had "conditioned" observers to believe Kobbie Mainoo could not play alongside Bruno Fernandes, a notion now disproven.
"Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, to be fair, he's not his absolute best today. But what you do see is a player," said the former United defender. "This idea we were sort of conditioned to think that he couldn't play with Bruno Fernandes in the team... that's wrong. Kobbie Mainoo is demonstrating that he can play the two in midfield."
Neville also praised Patrick Dorgu, who struggled as a "average wing-back" under Amorim but has flourished under Carrick, scoring two goals in two games from a more advanced position. "Looking at him now he's obviously a winger," Neville asserted. "Patrick Dorgu typifies what has happened at Manchester United in this last week."
The revival at Old Trafford underscores how tactical flexibility and managerial adaptability can swiftly alter a team's fortunes, leaving Amorim's tenure defined by stubbornness and missed opportunities.
