🔗 Share this article Time is ripe to change Manchester United's system - the manager states. Man Utd skipper Bruno Fernandes was among multiple first-team stars absent from the holiday period win against Newcastle. Boss Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to external noise would have meant "his demise" for him. In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wide defenders and opted to field an orthodox back four with two central midfielders. Amorim acknowledged this effectively became a back six in the final stages as his side clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign. While he once memorably remarked that even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the option to experiment with different setups has consistently been part of his plan. Yet, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would appear as if he was bowing to external criticism. "At the time I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he commented. "We were trying to establish an philosophy. Currently is a separate juncture. We are missing a lot of players, and we have to be flexible, so they see why we are switching things up. "The change isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the faithful. "When you discuss altering the system all the time, I can't change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I think that is the end for the coach. "Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to adapt. "We are going to become a more complete side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to play with a back three in every match." Availability Issues Continue Having only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well. He is, however, working with a depleted roster, with seven senior stars already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves. That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time. Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pressing his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem. "Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive." Fernandes' Leadership Remains Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game. Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing input. "He is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper. "There are flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see. "I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader." Return Timeline for Key Players While the precise timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
Man Utd skipper Bruno Fernandes was among multiple first-team stars absent from the holiday period win against Newcastle. Boss Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to external noise would have meant "his demise" for him. In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary back three formation with wide defenders and opted to field an orthodox back four with two central midfielders. Amorim acknowledged this effectively became a back six in the final stages as his side clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the campaign. While he once memorably remarked that even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim insists the option to experiment with different setups has consistently been part of his plan. Yet, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would appear as if he was bowing to external criticism. "At the time I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the start of a journey," he commented. "We were trying to establish an philosophy. Currently is a separate juncture. We are missing a lot of players, and we have to be flexible, so they see why we are switching things up. "The change isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the faithful. "When you discuss altering the system all the time, I can't change because the players will think I'm changing because of you and I think that is the end for the coach. "Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to adapt. "We are going to become a more complete side because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not planning to play with a back three in every match." Availability Issues Continue Having only two wins in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well. He is, however, working with a depleted roster, with seven senior stars already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolves. That total will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time. Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pressing his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem. "Fernandes is already saying he needs to train," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive." Fernandes' Leadership Remains Nevertheless, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game. Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing input. "He is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper. "There are flaws at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a many aspects you don't see. "I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader." Return Timeline for Key Players While the precise timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.