Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has publicly hit back at criticism from club legend Wayne Rooney, who recently claimed he had “no faith” in the Portuguese coach amid a difficult start to the season.

Rooney’s comments, along with those from Gary Neville, focused on tactical decisions—particularly Amorim’s use of a 3-4-2-1 system and deploying Mason Mount in unconventional roles.

Amorim defended his approach, saying that while the results have certainly been disappointing, he does not believe the system alone is to blame. He emphasized that inconsistencies in execution, rather than the formation itself, are more at fault.

“You have to look at the games we lost … I’m not saying this team would do better in another system or not — that is not my point. People have different opinions. That’s okay.”

Context & Pressure Mounts

The comments come at a tense time for United. After a loss at Brentford, Rooney publicly voiced his doubts about Amorim’s ability to turn things around. Reuters

Ahead of a fixture against Sunderland, Amorim stood firm, insisting he would not abandon his tactical approach, and called on greater consistency from his players rather than wholesale system changes. Reuters

What It Means for the Clash Ahead

As United prepares for a crucial match, Amorim’s message to critics is clear: doubt is part of the job, and he will remain focused on getting results on the pitch. His challenge is to translate that conviction into performance.