Ruben Amorim blasted for playing 'genius' Amad Diallo out of position with Man Utd players 'screaming' for system change

Amorim has come under fire for overseeing a dismal start to United's 2025-26 campaign. The Red Devils managed to collect just one point from their first two Premier League matches before they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town in the second round. However, United somewhat redeemed themselves at the weekend by picking up a narrow win over Burnley at Old Trafford to get up and running in the Premier League.  

Former Sunderland boss Mowbray, who managed Amad during his loan spell with the Black Cats between 2022 and 2023, has raised questions over Amorim's system, while suggesting he is wasting the youngster's talent in an unfamiliar right wing-back position. Mowbray labelled Amad a "genius" and claimed that his true potential can only be realised once he plays in the attack.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, the 61-year-old said: "In my opinion, and can I say this from a position of total humility that he's manager of Manchester United, who am I? Who am I to tell him what to do? But in my stomach, it feels like you don't have to play 5-4-1, whatever you want to call it. You don't have to do it. If the group of players is screaming at you to play a three-man midfield to protect the mobility of a Casemiro, if you want to play him or whoever it might be. 

"You maybe have to put an extra man in there, so why would you be so stuck on one system and trying to force Amad as a right wing-back? Amad who's a brilliant footballer, Man United class I would suggest. I speak to Gary Pallister a lot about this when we sit and have coffee near my street most days. Amad, he's a genius."

Mowbray added: "I talked about not having to look at the ball, the ball's stuck to his left foot. He is a brilliant football player, and a brilliant human being. And you're playing him at right wing-back just to fit into your system. He should be bending it in the top corner with his left foot, he should be sitting people on their backside and scoring wonderful goals like I know he can. Why's he chasing people into his own box playing right wing-back?"

Ruben Amorim's side will hope to build on the confidence they gained with the win over Burnley after the international break as they take on rivals Manchester City in a crucial Premier League derby clash on September 14.