Ruben Amorim has now put his front foot down on three Manchester United players after the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
The 40-year-old Manchester United manager watched on from the Etihad technical dugout as the Red Devils were blown out of the water against Manchester City.
City had entered the first Manchester derby of the 2025-26 campaign on the back of back-to-back Premier League defeats ahead of the September international break.
Pep Guardiola’s men came out on top and sealed all three Premier League points, with United left chasing the match against City after conceding in the first half.
Phil Foden opened the scoring for City on the weekend before in-form striker Erling Haaland netted a second-half brace against United in the Premier League clash.
Ruben Amorim hits back over midfield criticism and defends Man Utd duo Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro
Bruno Fernandes has played in a deeper midfield role this season and the Manchester United captain was again in the two-man pivot against Manchester City.
The 31-year-old Portugal international started alongside Manuel Ugarte for the City match, with the latter hooked off in the 80th minute for striker Joshua Zirkzee.
Casemiro came off the bench in the 80th minute and the 33-year-old former Real Madrid star replaced Benjamin Sesko in City’s 3-0 win over United at the Etihad.
Speaking after Sunday’s Manchester derby clash in the Premier League, Ruben Amorim defended both Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro over his midfield selection.
“Guys, I understand how football is and the results will dictate all the narratives,” he said at his post-match press conference, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“Against Arsenal, you think we play well? You think we were the better team? You think [Martin] Odegaard, Declan Rice, and I think [Martin] Zubimendi are three top midfielders.
“We play with two. One was Casemiro, the other was Bruno. Sometimes it’s the dynamic of the team. Sometimes it’s an opportunity that you score.
“I see it that way, I know that it’s really hard for people, and the fans don’t want to hear me saying these things, and I know that they are not going to listen [to] nothing and going to be upset.”
Ruben Amorim namechecks Kobbie Mainoo amid his argument about Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in the Man Utd midfield
Kobbie Mainoo impressed United fans with his second-half cameo against City, with the midfielder coming off the bench and replacing Noussair Mazraoui at the Etihad.
The 20-year-old Stockport-born midfielder has been left fighting for United first-team minutes after losing his place in the starting XI under Red Devils boss Amorim.
Amorim singled out Kobbie Mainoo alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro for the “narratives” being spun around the United midfield in his tactical system.
“With that, I can do nothing. I’m trying to be rational, and I don’t lie to myself,” he continued.
“So, I see the record, I understand the frustration of everybody, and I understand any decision that came with that.
“But that conversation about the two midfielders, the pair, Kobbie Mainoo, I understand all these narratives.
“But then, when I look [at] certain games, we play with two, it’s the same thing.”
Mainoo has only managed two Premier League appearances from United’s opening four league matches, with the England star coming off the bench on both occasions.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
