The future of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United appears increasingly uncertain after the club's director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, expressed significant doubts about his tactical approach.
Vivell's Frustration with Predictable System
Christopher Vivell has reportedly aired frustrations with Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation, a system that has drawn consistent criticism since the Portuguese manager took charge at Old Trafford in November 2024. The recruitment chief's concerns were starkly highlighted by comments from another Premier League boss.
Following Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Fulham in August 2025, Cottagers manager Marco Silva succinctly explained how he had dismantled Amorim's plan. 'We knew how they defend and we know they like to press from the back five,' Silva said. 'And if you don't give them references to press from the back five, you can create superiority in the middle. We know they play with two in the middle, so we tried to create an overload with our three, plus Alex [Iwobi]. It was as simple as that.'
According to a report by The Telegraph, Vivell shared Silva's analysis in a WhatsApp group for United's senior leadership team. His aim was to underscore that Amorim's style of play has become too easy for opponents to decode. Vivell was notably impressed by how simply Silva had taken apart his opponent's tactical setup.
Amorim's Explosive Press Conference
The tactical criticisms come in the wake of an explosive press conference from Amorim himself. Speaking after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday, 4th January 2026, the manager made his position at the club seem deeply unstable.
'I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear,' Amorim stated forcefully. He hinted at significant friction with the club's hierarchy over control of transfers and strategy, suggesting the club would not buy the players needed for his 3-4-3 system to succeed.
Amorim explicitly stated he does not expect to be in charge beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of the 2026/27 season. 'That is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal,' he said, adding, 'I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me.'
Silva Emerges as Potential Successor
Marco Silva, the manager whose tactical insight so impressed Vivell, is now being considered a contender for the Manchester United job should Amorim depart. The former Hull City, Watford, and Everton boss has been in charge of Fulham since July 2021, guiding them from the Championship to re-establishing them as a steady Premier League side, with over 200 games in charge.
Despite the off-pitch turmoil, Manchester United are sixth in the Premier League, just three points off the top four, marking an improvement on last season. However, Amorim's record of 24 wins, 18 draws, and 21 losses from 63 games, a win rate of 38.1%, has failed to convince key figures at the club of his long-term viability.
The situation sets the stage for a potentially turbulent 18 months at Old Trafford, with Amorim seemingly operating as a lame-duck manager and the club's leadership already assessing alternatives.
