Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker all felt strongly about one thing surrounding Manchester United under the reign of Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
The Rest Is Football podcast’s aforementioned trio linked up with one another in the aftermath of Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad.
City hosted United on Sunday for the first Manchester derby of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with the Red Devils falling well short on the day with their display.
United have dropped to 14th place in the Premier League table after the result on the weekend, while City have climbed to eighth with their first win since August.
Ruben Amorim watched his United side chase the Premier League match after City midfielder Phil Foden turned in a first-half header past Altay Bayindir at the Etihad.
Gary Lineker raises major Man Utd concern with Micah Richards and Alan Shearer after Man City’s Premier League win
Erling Haaland haunted Manchester United in the second half after the in-form Manchester City striker beat Altay Bayindir twice to complete a stunning brace.
Goals from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland ensured that Pep Guardiola’s men walked away from the first Manchester derby in the campaign with all three points.
United manager Ruben Amorim has found himself once again under pressure after Sunday’s defeat, including a major spotlight on his signature tactics and formation.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Gary Lineker expressed his concerns over Amorim’s tactical system for United and “everybody” knowing his style of play.
“As for United, blimey, I mean, they just look so poor,” he told Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
“I mean, one thing I would say, and in a way, you sort of say, ‘Well, you know, he knows the way he wants his team to play and he might not have the players.’
“But the one thing I would say is if you constantly tell everybody you’re going to continue playing the same way, does that not make your team very easy to plan against?
“So, you know, like City today, they outnumbered them in midfield. They had too many bodies for them.
“They couldn’t cope. But Pep knows before the game exactly how they’re gonna play if there’s no surprise.”
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker react to Micah Richards’ position on Man Utd and Ruben Amorim after the Manchester derby
Richards was vocal about United’s performance against City on the weekend and the Sky Sports pundit urged Amorim to pivot on his tactics and system after the result.
However, Shearer disagreed with his Rest Is Football co-host about a potential pivot from Amorim and argued that the United boss has “nailed himself” to his system.
“He’s [Amorim] not changing now, by the way,” he said.
“That’s his style. That’s his system. That’s him. He’s nailed himself to that system.”
Shearer continued: “He is not changing now. No way is he changing. He’s brought in what they think are players that can play that system.
“And that way, that’s debatable, but he is not changing that system, Micah.”
Following on from Shearer’s response to Richards, Lineker simply added: “I don’t think he [Amorim] is [going to pivot].
“I mean, he’s been very stubborn so far. I mean, why change now?”
United will now return to Premier League action on Saturday and the Red Devils will host Chelsea at Old Trafford, with kick-off planned for 5:30pm UK time.
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