Ruben Amorim told what could make Man Utd 'change the manager' as Jamie Carragher fires warning to Red Devils boss

The 40-year-old, who had earned widespread praise for his success at Sporting CP, was tasked with steering United out of a dismal run. But just six months into his tenure, the situation remains grim. United find themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League standings and are coming off a crushing 4-1 defeat to Newcastle, their 14th league loss of the season. With domestic hopes all but dashed, United's season now hinges on their Europa League campaign.

One of the central points of contention during Amorim's stint has been his unwavering loyalty to a three-at-the-back tactical setup. The formation, which brought him acclaim in Portugal, has yet to translate into consistent success in England. January signing Patrick Dorgu was brought in to bolster the wing-back position, but United’s attackers have failed to thrive within the system. Calls for tactical flexibility have grown louder, especially given the team’s continued poor results. But not everyone agrees with that advice.

Former Liverpool defender and prominent pundit Carragher has cautioned against pressuring Amorim to abandon his footballing philosophy. He insisted that if United brought Amorim on board knowing his reliance on a back-three, it would make little sense to ask him to abandon it now.

“It took a bit of time, obviously, for the system,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “People are still yet to be convinced by that, is that the right decision? Not actually from him, by the club for employing him because he came with that system, that’s his DNA. People keep saying, ‘oh, he’s got to change the system.’

“I don’t really see it like that because his whole managerial career and the success that he’s had has been based on that system, that’s what he knows. If he goes to something else, they might as well change the manager.”

Carragher also emphasized the challenging context surrounding Amorim’s appointment and believes that the manager should be the last person to be blamed for the mess United find themselves in.

“I think Amorim is probably at the end of that queue if you like. You’d have to look at the ownership and the players there. He’s going into a really difficult situation," he said.

“We have to remember he didn’t want to take the job right away. He wanted to come in the summer. In a pre-season, but the results that he’s got they’re still not good enough. We know for Man United, we’re not expecting them to win every week, we know they’re not a top team, but they shouldn’t be where they are in the league table, even with the players that they’ve got."

With all eyes now turning to Thursday’s decisive quarter-final second-leg Europa League clash against Lyon at Old Trafford, Amorim and his players face a must-win encounter. The aggregate scoreline is delicately poised at 2-2, and progression to the semi-finals could offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak campaign.