Paul Scholes insists Manchester United were not wrong to appoint Ruben Amorim but believes the manager is already struggling to cope with the pressure at Old Trafford. The former United midfielder thinks Amorim’s head could be “fried” after just a few months in the job, as he struggles to implement his preferred system with a squad not built for it.
Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November, replacing Erik ten Hag, but his impact has been minimal. United remain 13th in the Premier League, and their performances have shown little sign of improvement. The 40-year-old quickly introduced his trademark 3-4-3 formation, which brought him success in Portugal, but he has had to work with players ill-suited to the setup. This has resulted in an inconsistent playing style and tactical decisions that have raised eyebrows.
One such decision was Amorim’s choice to start new signing Patrick Dorgu at right wing-back rather than his natural position on the left. Scholes questioned this move, suggesting it was evidence that the manager was overwhelmed by the situation. “They buy a left wing-back and play him at right wing-back while keeping Dalot on the left,” Scholes said. “What’s going on here?”
Despite his concerns, Scholes stopped short of saying United made a mistake in hiring Amorim. “I’m not at the point where I think it’s the wrong decision because he’s come into a mess, and it still feels like a mess,” he said. However, he pointed to United’s league form and lack of progress as major concerns.
Amorim himself admitted a “storm” was coming when he took the job, and it appears he was right. With United still in the FA Cup and Europa League, they have chances for silverware, but their league form is alarming. Scholes even suggested that if results don’t improve, United could find themselves in an unlikely relegation battle.
The club’s issues extend beyond the manager. Scholes believes United lack a strong core of players, making recruitment in the summer crucial. “They need a new goalkeeper, two centre-backs, two central midfielders, and two centre-forwards,” he said. “They need to build a spine and then add bits to it.”
Scholes also expressed concerns about how United are using young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. “I think Mainoo is lost,” he said. “He’s played as a No.10, in midfield, and even as a false nine. That doesn’t suit him.” Comparing the situation to Declan Rice’s early struggles at Arsenal, Scholes warned United must find a settled role for Mainoo or risk stalling his development.
United’s January signings, 20-year-old Dorgu and 18-year-old Ayden Heaven, are unlikely to solve the team’s immediate problems. Instead, much will depend on how much backing Amorim receives from Ineos in the summer transfer window. If he is not given the funds to overhaul the squad, his struggles could continue into next season.
Scholes, speaking on Sky Bet’s The Overlap, concluded that United’s issues run deep and that major changes are needed. Whether Amorim will be the man to oversee those changes remains to be seen, but his first few months in charge have been anything but smooth.
