Manchester United 1-3 Brighton: Issues Resurface as Poor Leadership Remains the Core Problem
Last night’s 1-3 defeat to Brighton has once again highlighted Manchester United’s ongoing issues. At this point, it’s hard to reiterate the problems without sounding like a broken record: the players are not good enough, they struggle to adapt to coach Amorim’s tactics, and the inability to implement those tactics has left the team toothless in attack.
The Root Cause: Poor Leadership Decisions
It’s essential to recognize that United’s current struggles are not Amorim’s fault but the result of long-standing mismanagement by the club’s leadership. When Erik ten Hag was sacked, the United hierarchy was desperate to bring in Amorim, citing his tactical expertise. However, Amorim made it clear that he needed time to recruit players suited to his system and to allow the squad to fully understand his tactics.
The leadership refused his request, demanding that he take the role immediately or they would look elsewhere. Yet, they failed to deliver on their promises to support him. This season, the club has provided no funds to bring in new players. The current squad is ill-suited to Amorim’s tactical needs, and the leadership’s inability to offload surplus players has only worsened the situation. Many of these players couldn’t fetch reasonable transfer fees or even be loaned out without United covering part of their wages.
As a result, United is stuck relying on a mismatched squad, which has predictably fallen short of expectations.
Amorim’s Predicament: A Michelin Chef with Expired Ingredients
Criticizing Amorim for United’s poor performances is unfair. The issue lies not in his abilities but in the environment he’s been placed in. Comparing him to a Michelin-starred chef is apt: if a top chef is brought into your home but only allowed to cook with expired ingredients and forbidden to buy fresh ones, the final dish will naturally disappoint. United’s current squad is akin to these “expired ingredients.” No matter how brilliant Amorim’s tactics might be, success is nearly impossible under these conditions.
Brighton Match: Poor Performances and Costly Mistakes
In the match against Brighton, the team showed some fight after conceding the second goal. However, Onana’s error leading to the third goal completely deflated their morale. The final 20 minutes of the match were a display of utter lethargy.
It’s hard not to think back to a year and a half ago when David De Gea was one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. Instead of renewing his contract, United let their veteran keeper leave for free and then spent £50 million to bring in Onana. This decision epitomizes the club’s pattern of compounding one mistake with another.
United’s Future: A Lost Direction and Relegation Fears
I was once certain that Manchester United was not a team that would ever battle relegation. However, their recent performances have started to shake that confidence. The team is actively proving me wrong.
To climb out of this crisis, United’s leadership must reflect and enact fundamental changes immediately. Without this, neither Amorim nor any other top-tier coach can bring the club back on track.