Pressure is rapidly mounting on Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim following a dismal start to the 2025/26 Premier League season, which culminated in a chastening 3-0 defeat to cross-city rivals Manchester City. The Red Devils currently languish in 14th place in the Premier League table with a mere four points from their opening four matches, marking their worst start to a top-flight campaign since the 1992/93 season.

The Manchester derby saw United comprehensively beaten at the Etihad. Phil Foden opened the scoring, followed by a brace from Erling Haaland, securing a comfortable victory for the Cityzens. This defeat compounded United's woes, which also include an embarrassing exit from the Carabao Cup in the second round against League Two side Grimsby Town. Amorim's record at the club since his arrival last October stands at a concerning eight wins from 31 Premier League games, translating to less than one point per game – a statistic often associated with relegation form.

Footballing legends and former Manchester United players have voiced serious concerns over the club's trajectory under Amorim. Gary Neville admitted on Sky Sports he is "worried" for Amorim's future, stating, "I've seen this before, we've seen this film." Neville emphasized that results must improve quickly, especially after the club's significant £200 million summer investment in new players like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Senne Lammens. He warned that if United remains in the bottom half of the table by October, the manager would be "in trouble."

Wayne Rooney, who watched the derby alongside other icons like Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, and Bastian Schweinsteiger from South Korea, offered an even more scathing assessment. Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney found it "hard to see how it continues" and described United's performance as "frankly just not good enough." He highlighted the struggle among the legends to identify clear patterns of play or signs of improvement in Amorim's team. A particularly "powerful" observation for Rooney was seeing Manchester United fans leaving the stadium early, a sight he had "never seen" in his time, signaling deep disappointment.

Despite the growing criticism and dismal results, Ruben Amorim remains steadfast in his commitment to his tactical philosophy. He has rigidly stuck to his trademark 5-2-3 system and, after the City defeat, defiantly stated, "I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man." This firm stance has been delivered to the club's ownership group, INEOS, with Amorim insisting he believes in his way and will continue to play it. He expressed that while he sees improvement, the results do not reflect it, acknowledging that "the record says everything."

Adding to the concerns, Gary Lineker has expressed "bafflement" over Amorim's decision to sideline talented young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo, 20, was again left out of the starting XI against City, only appearing as a substitute, leading to Lineker questioning whether there's an unknown issue behind his exclusion. Lineker, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, praised Mainoo as "an incredible young talent" who performed well in his cameo, suggesting he should be playing a more significant role for the team's success.

While pressure mounts externally, reports suggest Manchester United's hierarchy, including part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are remaining calm and continue to back Amorim, willing to give him time to turn things around. Despite Ratcliffe being pictured with his head in his hands during the derby, the board is reportedly reluctant to initiate another costly rebuild so soon after a £220 million summer spending spree. However, the schedule offers no respite, with an unbeaten Chelsea visiting Old Trafford on Saturday, followed by a trip to face Brentford. These crucial fixtures will undoubtedly test Amorim's resolve and the board's patience, as the need for a rapid turnaround becomes increasingly urgent.