Not even the Pope could persuade me to change tactics – Amorim

Ruben Amorim, the head coach of Manchester United, claims the Pope is unable to persuade him to change his controversial formation.

Following the Manchester derby defeat at Etihad Stadium, minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who flew into the Carrington training ground on Thursday in his helicopter, has also been a highlight of another turbulent week at the club.

Instead of having some sort of emergency summit, United officials described the visit as “pre-planned.”

Amorim, whose side have only won one game from four Premier League games this season and been knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two Grimsby, laughed as he explained what had been discussed.

In spite of widespread criticism, he even managed a joke when the questioning turned to the more serious issue of whether Ratcliffe had suggested he might want to switch to the 3-4-1 formation Amorim is stubbornly refusing to do so.

“No, no, no”, he said. “No one. The Pope won’t change, either…

Amorim continues to use his system despite changing his mind.

He believes that if he leans forward under pressure, his position will be undermined by his teammates.

When a player and a coach say, “You need to change the system, and people all over the world say, and they’re under pressure,” they will look at me differently.

When you consider the potential impact of a decision on the team, everything is important.

I’m acting in my own way. Although I’d like to have more time to change, it will be evolutionary.

Amorim says he fully comprehends the need to win games before Chelsea visits Old Trafford.

Amorim is aware that his three games against Chelsea, Brentford, and recently promoted Sunderland have the potential to alter the narrative surrounding him, despite United officials’ objections to the notion that he has the three games until the following month’s international break to save his job.

Bruno Fernandes will likely start in a deeper midfield role against Chelsea as a result of Matheus Cunha’s £62 million injury.

Following a similar error that gave Emile Smith Rowe the opportunity to equalize for Fulham at Craven Cottage last month, Fernandes has been cited as evidence that the 31-year-old should be moved higher up the pitch in response to Fernandes’ failure to track Phil Foden’s run into the United penalty area.

Amorim’s explanation of why he thinks Fernandes can play more effective in the middle of his midfield was not the first.

In an effort to control the game, Bruno said, “I want more possession.”

He is entering the box and is able to make his shots, perhaps not with the same freedom.

“Sometimes we have a little gap in front of Bruno, but we always have a player with us.”

I’m just trying to find balance between the team and the game, and Bruno fits that description.

Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox, the club’s director of football, has shared a rare interview about the “challenges” he has encountered since he joined in April 2024.

The 54-year-old said he “thought the club was in much better place than it was” and that “the entire structure of Manchester United needed to change” during a Q&amp, A shared by Man Utd The Religion YouTube channel on Thursday night.