Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been cautioned that his habit of making late defensive substitutions risks alienating his own players, despite his side securing a hard-fought victory.
Foster Warns of Squad Disruption
The warning comes from former United and England goalkeeper Ben Foster, who analysed the team's 1-0 Boxing Day win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford. While the result marked only the Red Devils' second Premier League clean sheet of the season, Amorim's late-game tinkering drew sharp criticism.
In the closing stages of the match, with United under intense pressure, Amorim withdrew experienced defenders Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw. They were replaced by the less familiar figures of Tyler Fredricson and Tyrell Malacia, a decision that raised eyebrows among pundits and fans alike.
Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, Foster suggested the players themselves would be frustrated by such disruptions. "Man United seem to make defensive changes a lot, weird ones as well," Foster stated. "If you ask professional footballers about what they think of that, they will tell you honestly and say you shouldn't do that."
He emphasised the importance of stability in a game's dying moments: "You don't understand what it's like being a team in those last dying moments, with seven or eight minutes to go. You don't mess with it. Everybody knows where they are. They've played the game there and they're comfy there."
Neville's Bizarre Line-Up Verdict
Foster was not alone in his assessment. Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville also expressed bewilderment at the team that finished the match.
"I'd go as far as to say it's the most bizarre Manchester United XI I've ever seen on the pitch at the end of a game," Neville admitted during his commentary. "But they're hanging in there. They're fighting for their lives and Newcastle are pushing them."
Neville noted that United had performed well in the first half, but the situation became increasingly chaotic after the flurry of substitutions. "The shape, the players on the pitch got even more bizarre, but they hung on," he concluded.
Amorim Defends United's Fighting Spirit
Amorim, who has generally favoured a 3-4-2-1 formation since arriving at Old Trafford but switched to a back four against Newcastle, defended his team's resilience. The late changes saw United's defence morph into a makeshift back six as they clung to their lead.
The Portuguese coach acknowledged his team had needed fortune to secure the three points. "I think we suffered all together," Amorim said. "You can say that we defended well because we didn't suffer the goal, but they had chances to score a goal. We needed a little bit of luck sometimes."
He pointed to the collective determination as a positive takeaway. "We managed to defend, sometimes with a back six, but we suffered together and that is a good feeling. If we always have this spirit, we are going to win so many games," Amorim added, stressing the value of winning through grit and togetherness, even when not playing at their best.
The debate highlights the fine line managers walk between tactical innovation and maintaining on-pitch cohesion, with Amorim's methods set to remain under close scrutiny as United's campaign continues.
