🔗 Share this article Time is ripe to alter Manchester United's system - Ruben Amorim insists. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was among seven first-team stars to miss the holiday period win against Newcastle. Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to external pressure would have been "the finish" for him. For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and chose to use an traditional four-man defense with two holding midfielders. Amorim acknowledged this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his squad held on for a victory - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign. Although he once famously said that not even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize varied formations has remained part of his long-term vision. Yet, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was bowing to outside noise. "When I arrived here last season, I understood maybe I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the commencement of a journey," he stated. "Our aim was to build an philosophy. Now is a separate time. We lack a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they comprehend why we are changing. "It is not because of the demands of the media, or the supporters. "When the press discuss altering the system constantly, I can't make a change because the squad will think I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager. "Once we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to evolve. "We will become a more complete squad because when our full complement of players are back, we are not going to use a back three in every match." Injury Challenges Loom Large With only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to say his team have been playing well. He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolves. That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time. Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to return after his muscle injury. "Bruno is already telling me he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that." Fernandes' Influence Is Unwavering However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game. Amorim expects his leader to continue providing input. "The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper. "There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see. "I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain." Return Timeline for Key Personnel Although the precise timeline for the captain's return - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was among seven first-team stars to miss the holiday period win against Newcastle. Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to external pressure would have been "the finish" for him. For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and chose to use an traditional four-man defense with two holding midfielders. Amorim acknowledged this at times transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his squad held on for a victory - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign. Although he once famously said that not even the highest authority could compel him to adjust his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize varied formations has remained part of his long-term vision. Yet, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was bowing to outside noise. "When I arrived here last season, I understood maybe I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the commencement of a journey," he stated. "Our aim was to build an philosophy. Now is a separate time. We lack a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they comprehend why we are changing. "It is not because of the demands of the media, or the supporters. "When the press discuss altering the system constantly, I can't make a change because the squad will think I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager. "Once we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the moment to evolve. "We will become a more complete squad because when our full complement of players are back, we are not going to use a back three in every match." Injury Challenges Loom Large With only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to say his team have been playing well. He is, though, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple senior players already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolves. That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time. Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to return after his muscle injury. "Bruno is already telling me he needs to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that." Fernandes' Influence Is Unwavering However, the Portuguese star will almost certainly continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game. Amorim expects his leader to continue providing input. "The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper. "There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see. "I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a leader. He is a true captain." Return Timeline for Key Personnel Although the precise timeline for the captain's return - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.