🔗 Share this article The moment is right to change Manchester United's system - the manager states. Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes was among multiple senior stars to miss the Boxing Day victory against Newcastle. Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to public scrutiny would have meant "the end" for him. Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wing-backs and chose to deploy an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders. Amorim acknowledged this effectively became a back six in the closing phase as his squad clung on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season. Despite he once famously stated that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim insists the ability to play with different formations has consistently been part of his strategy. Yet, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were doing at an acceptable level - or else it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside criticism. "When I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented. "Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a separate moment. We don't have a lot of players, and we have to adjust, so they see the reason we are making changes. "It is not because of the pressure of you guys, or the supporters. "Whenever media talk about changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the coach. "Only when we are performing strongly in our system, that is the opportunity to adapt. "This will help us develop into a more complete side because when all the personnel are available, we are not going to employ a back three in every match." Injury Challenges Continue With just two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to say his team have been playing well. He is, however, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers. That number will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time. Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to return following his muscle problem. "Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that." The Captain's Leadership Endures Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game. Amorim is sure his leader to carry on offering insight. "He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper. "He has flaws sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of things you don't see. "I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader." Return Schedule for Injured Players While the specific date for Fernandes' return - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.
Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes was among multiple senior stars to miss the Boxing Day victory against Newcastle. Manager Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to public scrutiny would have meant "the end" for him. Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wing-backs and chose to deploy an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders. Amorim acknowledged this effectively became a back six in the closing phase as his squad clung on for a victory - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season. Despite he once famously stated that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim insists the ability to play with different formations has consistently been part of his strategy. Yet, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were doing at an acceptable level - or else it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside criticism. "When I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented. "Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a separate moment. We don't have a lot of players, and we have to adjust, so they see the reason we are making changes. "It is not because of the pressure of you guys, or the supporters. "Whenever media talk about changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the coach. "Only when we are performing strongly in our system, that is the opportunity to adapt. "This will help us develop into a more complete side because when all the personnel are available, we are not going to employ a back three in every match." Injury Challenges Continue With just two victories in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to say his team have been playing well. He is, however, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers. That number will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time. Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly pressing his manager to allow him to return following his muscle problem. "Fernandes is already insisting he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that." The Captain's Leadership Endures Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game. Amorim is sure his leader to carry on offering insight. "He is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the skipper. "He has flaws sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of things you don't see. "I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader." Return Schedule for Injured Players While the specific date for Fernandes' return - and that of other injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.