Amorim under pressure remains the story at Manchester United, even after their 2–0 win over Sunderland. That victory might have suppressed a blizzard but Gary Neville was quick to remind all: a single victory cannot clear a season of suspicions. The long-serving claimsman of the United side made it plain that the Portuguese boss is by no means off the hook-his lack of tact, his changing teams and weak outlooks continue to hover over the walls of the Old Trafford wake.
To begin with, the very match provided a certain rest. The earnest blow was made by Mason, Mount, and the fastidious Benjamin Sesko increased the chances at least two to one before half-time. United was a clean sheet and the mood about the club seemed to settle–at least, temporarily. Plonist however Neville, in his eponymous podcast, did not consider it to be anything but a temporary reprieve. C’est pas le panneau, s’il gagne, said he. This club does not call out sporadically to relieve itself.
But the criticism of Neville was on a more fundamental level. He identifies what he regards as some of the same strategic mistakes: Mason Mount playing out of position at left wing back, changing the defensive configurations each and every game, and making substitutions that as often as not confuse instead of motivate. He deplored the fact that the decisions of the manager reflected short-sightedness. Neville argues that such back and forth will only make the squad more unstable a problem which can only be remedied by winning games.
Amorim has responded by defending his practices. Despite this, he maintains that the 3-4-3 system he had introduced in Portugal is not flawed in itself, and then he becomes selective when things happen to run well. According to him, outcomes determine stories and, therefore, when Utd succeed, his machine saves the day but when they falter, it becomes the goat to be blamed. He even mentioned his players who, he argued, can sometimes be influenced by outside voices rather than inside ones, a statement that Neville quickly discounted as an excuse of managers.
Last but not least the wider context should not be ignored. United have had trouble finding some consistency this season. Early leaving in domestic cups, their disproportionate shape in the leagues, and their tactical incoherence have all been questioned. Reportedly, unless the results start to improve in the near future, the patience of the hierarchy could run thin. The Sunderland victory was both required and not good enough according to several pundits and fans who were present.
In sum, the book Amorim under pressure clearly reflects the current state of affairs at the United. Not that 2-0 result can provide rest, but the story has not changed. Tactics will be evaluated, confidence will have to be regained and consistency in performance should follow. A victory could give time–but it is only prolonged success that will warrant slackening the leash.
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