Gary Neville has voiced concerns that Ruben Amorim is struggling to sell his ideas to Manchester United’s players, and Confidential understands some have discussed among themselves whether a change of plan that is better suited to their style of play may be the best way forward.
That’s unlikely to happen anytime soon after Amorim vowed to stand by his philosophy at all costs despite losing eight of his 20 games in charge, playing a 3-4-3 formation with wing-backs.
But United visit Tottenham on Sunday with both clubs uncomfortably close to the relegation zone, and there is growing concern among some players that the teething problems they have experienced under Amorim are not going to improve unless he considers at least tweaking the system.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former United defender said last week after United’s defeat by Crystal Palace: ‘I thought it would get better when Ruben Amorim came in, the enthusiasm of him and the new system, the players would buy into and we’d see a bounce, but we’ve seen the absolute opposite and it’s got a lot worse.
‘They (United) are obviously going to stick with Amorim. But the more you lose, the more difficult it is for the manager to convince the players of his idea.
‘It will depress the thoughts of the players to a point whereby they’ll start to lose faith in the idea and it’ll damage you.’
Ruben Amorim has come under fire after losing eight of his first 20 matches in charge of United
Gary Neville questioned whether Amorim was managing to get his ideas across to his players
Amorim hasn’t lost the dressing room but questions will continue to be asked of his philosophy
Although there is no suggestion Amorim risks losing the dressing room, questions will continue to be asked of his strategy unless United begin to show a marked improvement.
Friday’s FA Cup win over Leicester was little better, with even the United boss struggling to find reasons to celebrate.
Martinez to have knee op
Lisandro Martinez is set to have surgery this week to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
United confirmed last week that Martinez had damaged his ACL in their 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace and said that ‘assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the appropriate course of treatment’.
Confidential understands club doctors have decided an operation is the best course of action and the Argentina defender will go under the knife shortly.
It is unclear how long Martinez will be out of action but the initial prognosis was around six months, which would give him a chance of being fit for the start of next season.
The 27-year-old damaged the medial ligament in his right knee against West Ham a year ago but the injury didn’t require surgery and he was back eight games later.
Sadly, this time he faces a much longer layoff.
Lisandro Martinez will have knee surgery after coming off on a stretcher against Crystal Palace
The Argentina defender is hoping to be back for the start of next season
United fans cleared over chaos
An investigation into how 1,600 Rangers fans infiltrated home sections of Old Trafford for the Europa League clash last month has found minimal United supporters were to blame for the chaos.
A ‘small number’ of fans who the club believe sold their ticket to a Rangers supporter have been hit with sanctions – a suspension prior to appeal, with the possible outcome of a year’s ban from attending home and away matches. It is thought they were identified on CCTV.
But United say the problems which ensued on the night were caused by touts and unofficial resellers using accounts registered on the club’s database to distribute tickets, rather than season ticket holders.
At least 100 Rangers supporters bought official off-site hospitality at Old Trafford through their club, priced at £325 plus VAT per ticket, after the Scottish side chose to sell part of their category one Uefa allocation.
Visiting clubs in European games are entitled to category one tickets under UEFA rules, which at Old Trafford are located in the South Stand.
These are often used by dignitaries and players’ families but of the 200 allocated to Rangers, 100 were sold on by the Scottish club in what Confidential understands is a highly unusual move. Rangers have not responded to requests for comment.
The high number of Rangers fans in the home end led to worrying scenes inside the ground.
United have vowed to review their approach to matches deemed ‘high-risk’ to avoid a repeat in future.
Thousands of Rangers fans found their way into the home end during the Europa League clash
It can be revealed that 100 category one tickets were sold on by Rangers
Disney bonus for Garnacho
The decision to host a recovery training session on the pitch in the hours after squeezing past Leicester City in the FA Cup meant that it allowed players the opportunity for a weekend off before coming back in refreshed on Monday morning.
Alejandro Garnacho, who came off the bench to turn the tie in United’s favour, made the decision to go over the Channel to visit Disneyland with his partner Eva Garcia and their son Enzo.
Team-mate Diogo Dalot instead opted for a family weekend away in the Cotswolds, while others simply took the chance to unwind around the north-west with family.
United are still alive in two cup competitions and as much as Ruben Amorim is keen to drill his ideas in on the training pitch, there is a feeling that giving the players some time to detach from the stresses of the season can help rejuvenate them for the remaining months.
TV pick is a hit
Friday night’s match between United and Leicester was ITV’s biggest FA Cup match since April, based on total coverage.
It averaged 3.2 million viewers and peaked with 4.4 million viewers across ITV1 and ITVX.
Harry’s a heartbreaker
Bonnie Tyler had it right. They played her 1977 hit It’s a Heartache at Old Trafford before Friday’s FA Cup fourth round tie because United fans have adopted the tune for their tribute song to Ruben Amorim, but the words would have resonated more with Leicester City.
‘It’s a heartache, Nothing but a heartache, Hits you when it’s too late, Hits you when you’re down,’ sings Bonnie.
Harry Maguire headed a 93rd-minute winner to knock out his old club Leicester City
United couldn’t have left it any later to hit Leicester as Foxes old boy Harry Maguire headed a controversial winner in the 93rd minute to put the cup holders into the fifth round and leave former Old Trafford favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy heartbroken.
United fans spent most of the first half fighting off the boredom by singing the new tune, having borrowed their other Amorim tribute song from KC and The Sunshine Band. It’s a Heartache and Give It Up. Are they trying to tell the United boss something?
Players get message across
While the United players warmed up for Friday’s FA Cup win over Leicester City with the words Mucha Fuerza Licha – Stay Strong Licha – on the back of their training tops in support of Lisandro Martinez, the club’s Under 21s had an important message of their own.
The youngsters prepared for their game against Tottenham Hotspur on the same night with their tops inside out to mark Children’s Mental Health Week. It was aimed at encouraging young people to talk about and express their emotions and what is going on the inside.
Heaven feels the love
One of the selling points made to players to entice them to Old Trafford has long been that United can transform an individual’s personal brand.
That has already made itself known to young January signing Ayden Heaven, who has seen his Instagram following treble in two weeks.
The 18-year-old made the move north from Arsenal and was unveiled at Old Trafford alongside fellow January arrival Patrick Dorgu.
Heaven had in the region of 43,000 followers on Instagram on January 28, but now boasts more than 125,000 – and that’s without making a first-team appearance.
Ayden Heaven (right) was unveiled last month at Old Trafford alongside Patrick Dorgu
Fergie’s still a father figure
Sir Alex Ferguson might be working his notice period as a Manchester United ambassador, but he remains a father figure for the club in times of need.
The 83-year-old was called upon to speak at Denis Law’s funeral at Manchester Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon, a month after giving a eulogy there for much-loved United employee Kath Phipps.
In the absence of the Glazer family and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ferguson’s standing at United and his personal relationship with Law made him the obvious choice to pay a heartfelt tribute to his fellow Scot.
It comes as Ferguson prepares to sign off as an official ambassador at the end of the season after Ratcliffe decided to end his £2million-a-year contract as part of the cost cuts at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Fergsuon has been a father figure for United, with the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe all missing Denis Law’s funeral on Tuesday
Greats pay tribute to Law
The great and the good of British football were at Manchester Cathedral on Tuesday for the funeral of Denis Law, the man dubbed The King by United fans.
Plans were swiftly cancelled once the date was set for United to say farewell to the last of their Holy Trinity following Law’s passing at the age of 84 last month.
Confidential learns that Sir Kenny Dalglish, Bryan Robson and Denis Irwin were due to attend the Grand National Weights Lunch at St George’s Hall in Liverpool today, but pulled out to be at the service to pay tribute to a true United and Scotland legend.
Sir Kenny Dalglish arrives at Denis Law’s funeral at Manchester Cathedral on Tuesday
Evans dig is desperate for Dan
A lot of work went into finding a good landing spot for Dan Gore, particularly given how frustrating it was for all involved last season when he went to Port Vale.
Gore made the move to Vale Park last January but only made one appearance before injury curtailed the remainder of his loan.
So Rotherham manager Steve Evans’ public comments about Gore after he was left out against Shrewsbury at the weekend raised eyebrows at United.
Having come off the bench against Birmingham City and produced an assist, Gore played no part in Rotherham’s 2-1 defeat by the Shrews.
Local media cited a foot injury as the reason for Gore’s omission, but Evans was particularly unhelpful towards the player in his post-match comments.
‘It’s unbelievable,’ he said. ‘We didn’t do enough in training for him to have a sore nose let alone a sore foot. Until I hear more from the medical staff as to how it’s happened and why it’s happened then it’s … maybe God will tell me when I go to sleep tonight.’
The 20-year-old has had a stop-start few years due to injury, and is crying out for a clear run to get some games under his belt. He started this season rehabbing shoulder surgery by playing – and impressing – for United Under 21s, excelling in games in the National League Cup.
But with tensions already rising at Rotherham, United bosses will be monitoring Gore and his progress with interest in the coming weeks.
Dan Gore (second right) was United’s reserve team player of the year in 2022-23
Gore came under fire from Rotherham manager Steve Evans for missing a match with a sore foot
Get your football fix
For United fans looking for a football fix this week, get down to Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night to see Adam Lawrence’s Under 18s host Chelsea in the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup.
United are the most successful team in the club’s competition and after home wins over Coventry City and Preston North End, they now face a step up in quality against Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Having bowed out of the Under 18 Premier League Cup, the FA Youth Cup represents a chance at silverware for a young United side brimming with stars of the future, including striker Chido Obi, as well as young left back Harry Amass. Tickets can be bought HERE.
Bradbury bounces back
United Under 18s saw the defence of their Premier League Cup title ended recently following a penalty shootout disappointment against West Ham.
Louie Bradbury is a Wales youth international and has had experience at four levels this season
In sudden death, 16-year-old striker Louie Bradbury stepped up and missed. But any worries that setback could bury the young Welsh forward soon disappeared after he bagged a hat-trick in the Under 16s’ 5-3 win against Liverpool.
Bradbury is one of the young forwards to watch coming through the ranks and his treble against bitter rivals Liverpool has helped shake off any hangover from the cup shootout.
The teenager is routinely shifted between age groups and this season he has already gained experience at Under 16, 17, 18 and Under 21 level.
He won his first FA Youth Cup call-up in the previous round against Preston North End and is pushing for involvement this week in the last 16 against Chelsea.
