Ruben Amorim has insisted that changing Manchester United’s system because of outside pressure would have undermined his authority, admitting it would have been “the end” for him as head coach.
The Portuguese coach abandoned his preferred back three with wing-backs for the first time in the win over Newcastle, instead opting for a more traditional back four supported by two holding midfielders.
Amorim acknowledged that the shape became increasingly defensive late on as United protected their lead, effectively dropping into a back six as they secured only their second clean sheet of the season.
Despite previously stating that not even the Pope could persuade him to abandon his system, he stressed that tactical flexibility was always part of his long-term thinking, but that any change had to come at the right moment.
“When I came here last season, I understood maybe I don’t have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process,” he said.
“We were trying to build an identity. Today is a different moment. We don’t have a lot of players, and we need to adapt, so they understand why we are changing.
“It is not because of the pressure of you guys [media], or the fans.
“When you [media] talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand I’m changing because of you and I think that is the end for the manager.
“When we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to change.
“We are going to become a better team because when all the players return, we are not going to play with three defenders all the time.”
United’s form before the Newcastle victory, which brought just two wins in eight matches, means Amorim’s claim that the team were playing well could be debated.
He has, however, been forced to work with a stretched squad, with seven senior players already unavailable for the upcoming home match against winless Wolves.
That list could yet grow if Mason Mount does not recover from the injury that saw him withdrawn at half-time against Newcastle.
Captain Bruno Fernandes will definitely miss the Wolves fixture despite pushing to return after suffering a hamstring problem in the Premier League defeat at Aston Villa on 21 December.
“Bruno is already saying he needs to train,” Amorim said. “But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. You can write that.”
Even while sidelined, Fernandes is expected to remain closely involved. He was seen watching warm-ups from the tunnel area ahead of the Newcastle match, rather than from a box, and Amorim believes that influence is part of his leadership role.
“The guy is a leader,” he said. “He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he’s not talking and speaking. He’s always speaking. That’s why he’s the captain.
“He has bad things sometimes – the way he moves his arms – but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers after games, or even after treatment, he goes to watch the other guys training. There is a lot of things you don’t see.
“I don’t know if he wants my job or not, but he’s a leader. The guy is a leader.”