Manchester United supporters have been revisiting a baffling decision made by Ruben Amorim during his spell at the club.
On Saturday afternoon, United took on arch-rivals Manchester City in their first Premier League match since Amorim’s dismissal.
With Michael Carrick stepping in for his first game as interim manager, expectations among fans were low, and many feared a difficult afternoon at Old Trafford.
Instead, inspired performances from several key players powered United to an emphatic 2-0 victory over City, lifting them into fourth place in the Premier League standings.
In the aftermath of such a statement win, supporters have reflected on one particular decision from Amorim’s tenure that now appears even more puzzling.
Amorim managed United for 63 matches, recording 24 wins, 18 draws, and 21 defeats — leaving him with a 31.9% win rate, the lowest of any permanent manager in the club’s history.
Throughout his time in charge, several of his decisions frustrated fans, especially his handling of young players. However, following the City victory, it was his use of captain Bruno Fernandes that sparked renewed criticism.
After Fernandes delivered a commanding display against City, fans took to X to highlight Amorim’s tactical choices. One supporter joked:
“Amorim used to play Bruno Fernandes at CDM.”
Another added:
“One of Ruben Amorim’s biggest mistakes was playing Bruno Fernandes out of position. Bruno needs to be closer to goal, where he can do real damage.”
A third fan wrote:
“As expected, the new Man Utd manager sets up in a 4-2-3-1 with Bruno as the No.10 and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield — and suddenly they look like a normal football team again. That Amorim fella was a complete clown.”
Fernandes’ performance against City only strengthened those arguments. He became the first player to create six or more chances and register an assist in a Premier League match against a Pep Guardiola-managed Manchester City side.
In addition, he is now just the second player — after Bryan Mbeumo last season — to create five or more chances from open play against City.
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