Amorim says United needed identity before tactical flexibility

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said he needed to establish a clear playing identity at Old Trafford before demanding tactical flexibility from his squad, insisting that bowing to outside pressure to change systems would have undermined his authority.

Amorim abandoned his preferred back-three system for the first time in Friday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle, opting instead for a back four and two holding midfielders.

The Portuguese coach, who once said not even the Pope could persuade him to change his system, said he was never as rigid as he appeared.

“When I came here last season, I understood that maybe I didn’t have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process,” Amorim said ahead of Tuesday’s league match at home to relegation-threatened Wolves.

“We were trying to build an identity. Today it is a different moment. We don’t have many players and we need to adapt, so they understand why we are changing.”

The former Sporting Lisbon boss added that reacting to constant calls for change would have been damaging.

“When the media talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will think I’m changing because of you, and I think that is the end for the manager,” he said.

“When we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to change. We are going to be a better team because when all the players return, we are not going to play with three defenders all the time.”

United, who are three points off the Champions League places, had won just two of their previous eight league games before beating Newcastle.

They will be without seven senior players against Wolves, who remain bottom of the table and are still searching for their first league win of the season after 18 matches.

Club captain Bruno Fernandes will miss the match despite telling Amorim he was eager to return after suffering a hamstring injury in a Dec. 21 defeat at Aston Villa.

“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.”

Amorim added that Fernandes would still play a leadership role from the sidelines.

“He is a leader,” he said. “He’s always speaking. That’s why he’s the captain.”