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What should Man Utd’s ambitions for this season now be?
Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has expressed concerns over the club’s summer transfer activity, suggesting a lack of “quality” to effectively implement manager Ruben Amorim’s tactical 3-4-3 formation.
The Red Devils have endured their worst league start since the 1992-93 season, accumulating only four points from their initial four fixtures.
Internal assessments at United reportedly favored strengthening attacking positions during the transfer window.
However, despite a £200m investment in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, the team has only managed to score four Premier League goals thus far, with two attributed to own goals.
Despite increasing external pressure on Amorim, exacerbated by a 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City, senior United officials continue to voice their support for the Portuguese manager.
Echoing their response to last month’s Carabao Cup elimination by League Two Grimsby, club leadership remains confident in Amorim’s ability to revitalize the team, prioritizing long-term progress over immediate results.
Scholes, however, believes the underlying issues are significant and will require more than just time to resolve.
“I don’t think the quality is there,” he stated on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.
“Whatever two out of the four or five they have got in [midfield] – Casemiro, Bruno [Fernandes], [Kobbie] Mainoo – whatever combination he seems to try doesn’t seem to work.
“That’s a big issue. I thought all summer, the absolute priority was a centre-midfield player with legs, who can play and can control a game.
“Goalkeeper was [also] a major issue. Did they really need to get to the Grimsby game to realise [Andre] Onana is not good enough?
“If Manchester United were not in the market for Gianluigi Donnarumma when he became available, that is criminal offence.
“The recruitment side went to buy forwards. That did need addressing but did it need three of them? I’m not sure it did.”
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With Chelsea next to visit Old Trafford, followed by a trip to Brentford – a ground where United have conceded four goals in each of their last two appearances – and subsequent matches against Sunderland and Liverpool at Anfield, the likelihood of a swift turnaround in form appears slim.
Scholes is not alone in his assessment. Wayne Rooney, United’s all-time leading scorer, also believes the team has “got worse” under Amorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag last November.
“He cannot carry on playing this way, he just can’t,” said Scholes, a veteran of 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League victories with the club.
“At some point there has to be a moment where he thinks, ‘I have to change something because what I am doing now is not working and I am not getting results’. The proof is there.
“I like Amorim, with everything he says, he seems to be a likeable man. But unfortunately results paint a picture.
“At this moment in time it isn’t good enough. At this moment in time if results don’t improve, performances don’t really matter that much. He has to win some games or the pressure is going to come on him massively.”
Following last season’s struggles, which saw United finish 15th in the league and lose the Europa League final to Tottenham, Amorim dedicated his summer to fostering a positive dressing room environment.
While some players reportedly harbor reservations about Amorim’s unwavering tactical approach, there are currently no indications of widespread discontent within the squad.
The optimism surrounding Amorim extends beyond the Old Trafford boardroom.
João Noronha Lopes, a leading candidate in the upcoming Benfica presidential election on October 25th, is reportedly keen to bring Amorim back to the club where he established himself as a player, making 154 appearances over six seasons.
Lopes attended Sunday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium, accompanied by Pedro Ferreira and Nuno Gomes, the former Portugal and Benfica forward and close friend of Amorim.
Speaking to Portuguese media before their departure to Manchester, Gomes addressed the possibility of Amorim’s return.
“I can’t answer that question,” he said. “Ruben Amorim is the coach of Manchester United.
“But one thing I do know, Ruben Amorim will be the coach of Benfica one day.”
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