Rene Meulensteen examines Ruben Amorim’s systemic dilemma, it’s become a ‘witch-hunt’

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen believes Ruben Amorim shouldn’t be so stubborn on his preferred system.

The first 11 months have been difficult for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, but Ineos are giving the Portuguese coach time to turn things around at Old Trafford.

In Amorim’s 50th game in charge, United beat Sunderland 2-0 to get back to winning ways, but they must wait until after the October international break to play again when they take on current Premier League champions Liverpool.

The Red Devils sit 10^th in the league table after seven matches, with three wins, one draw and three defeats. This has led to widespread criticism from pundits over Amorim insisting on his preferred 3-4-2-1 system.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
8	EvertonEverton	7	3	2	2	9	7	2	11
9	SunderlandSunderland	7	3	2	2	7	6	1	11
10	Manchester UnitedManchester United	7	3	1	3	9	11	-2	10
11	NewcastleNewcastle	7	2	3	2	6	5	1	9
12	BrightonBrighton	7	2	3	2	10	10	0	9

Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has pointed out why Amorim’s system isn’t working in comparison to Oliver Glasner’s at Crystal Palace, with the Eagles unbeaten this season.

Now, former United coach Rene Meulensteen has weighed in on the conversation, with his views on how Amorim should approach the systemic issues he has experienced since moving from Sporting CP.

Rene Meulensteen urges Ruben Amorim to be less stubborn

One of the key words surrounding the debate over Amorim’s system is ‘adaptive’, or not being adaptive enough.

Amorim has made it clear from the start that he won’t be changing his system, and some feel Ineos would have been better suited to an adaptive coach after sacking Erik ten Hag.

However, Meulensteen has argued that there’s nothing wrong with Amorim’s system, but feels he should be able to tweak his tactics with the players he has available.

“It’s not wrong with any system,” Meulensteen told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview. “It is all about, ‘can the players execute in that system?’

“And if they can’t, yeah, then you need to adapt, in my opinion. Otherwise, you keep trying to do the same thing and nothing changes.

“In the modern game, in my opinion, people sometimes start from whether it’s a 4-3-3 and can very quickly go to a 3-4-3. It flows depending on how the game evolves, depending on what the opposition does and the system they play.

“I said from the start I don’t think it was wise for him to say ‘I want to play 3-4-3 and this is what I’m going to do, and I’m not going to change.’ I think he should have said, ‘Listen, I’m in favour of 3-4-3, I had a lot of success with it. I really hope I can make it work at Manchester United, but I first need to have a look at the players I’ve got. I need to look at the Premier League because it’s a completely different league from what’s in Portugal. If it doesn’t work, then I need to be a bit creative and maybe adapt.’

“Then he would have given himself more freedom, as now it’s almost a ‘witch-hunt’ to say the system, the system, the system, which obviously doesn’t help because every time they fall short, people start asking the same question.”

What did Ruben Amorim say about his system?

Amorim will not compromise on his idea of playing football at United regardless of results.

The Portuguese coach believes the same system that brought him success in Portugal will deliver in the Premier League.

Back in August, Amorim was quizzed on his system when he reminded journalists how he got the United job.

“I played in all my life, a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. The only system that I didn’t play one minute [was] 3-4-3,” Ruben said, as quoted by the official Manchester United website.

“So I just have one idea that we need to be so good in this way of playing, then we are going to adapt. It’s like some coaches have a mentality that I’m going to put this system and then I’m going to change.

“What I’m thinking is that we have one system that is going to adapt to different systems. And then when everyone is doing this with his eyes shut, I’m going to change a lot of things.

“You cannot tell me that we are always with five defenders. You cannot tell me that we are always with four defenders. You cannot tell me that we are always with three defenders.

“I’m just trying to coach my players, with the idea that I have.

“I say that many times: this is the fun part. If he’s doing it just to win the game or to play in the 4-3-3, I would not be here.

“They asked me before I arrive here: can you play in this [other] system? I will say, I will do my system no matter what. If it’s okay for you, it’s okay. And then in the future, I could change, I could wake up one morning and say, [if] I understand that for my idea of football, it’s better to change, I will change, right away. I just want to win.

“But if I’m going to change, because something is not working, I don’t believe the players will understand – this guy is telling you one thing [but] he’s not believing in that thing.

“So it’s not about a system. We didn’t lose to Grimsby about the system. I mean, in the first half, I didn’t know the system of the team, so guys, it’s not the system.”