Manager Amorim and the Man Utd players applaud Man Utd fans after the 0-3 loss to Man City in the 4th round of the Premier League at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, 14/9/2025.

The 0-3 defeat to Man City on the evening of 14/9 was no surprise to Man Utd fans. The team has been unstable since the start of the season and is still struggling to establish a cohesive playing style. Despite expensive transfers, Man Utd's attack hasn't lived up to expectations, while the defense continues to repeat mistakes from last season.

The three goals conceded against Man City were a painful replay of familiar failings. Man Utd's defensive woes stem from either set pieces or lapses in individual marking, rather than systemic issues.

Luke Shaw should have handled Jeremy Doku's run into the box and subsequent cross better. However, the most direct error came from Bruno Fernandes, who allowed Phil Foden to ghost in behind him for a free header. The Portuguese captain has a habit of ball-watching, instead of tracking opposing players' runs to anticipate danger.

Four Man Utd players (red) leave Haaland unmarked in the 68th minute at Etihad Stadium, allowing the Norwegian striker to score and make it 3-0. Image: Sky

Ironically, Fernandes isn't lazy. He consistently ranks among the players with the highest mileage on the pitch. His issue lies in his defensive habits, not just his ability to track back. At Fulham three weeks ago, he made a similar mistake, failing to mark Emile Smith-Rowe, which led to the equalizer.

In other aspects, Fernandes played well against Man City. Amorim's idea of deploying his compatriot as a number eight, rather than his usual number 10 role, isn't entirely foolish. Fernandes possesses the passing range, technical skills, and grit required for a midfield anchor. But without the ball, Fernandes hasn't mastered the defensive side of the game, and Amorim needs to address this before his tactical experiment completely backfires.

Fernandes isn't the only player being shoehorned into an unfamiliar role at Man Utd. Due to Amorim's rigid 3-4-2-1 system, Shaw has been transformed from a traditional attacking left-back into a third center-back. His limitations were exposed in the second goal, where he was physically outmatched by Erling Haaland. Earlier, Shaw was also easily beaten by Doku's simple hip-shake in the lead-up to the first goal.

Most goals originate from some kind of error. However, when players are comfortable in the system and playing in their natural roles, they make better decisions. Mistakes wouldn't be accumulating for Man Utd as they currently are.

Fernandes (number 8) allows Foden an easy header to open the scoring. Image: Reuters

Is Amorim being too stubborn? The Portuguese manager has stated his commitment to his preferred system. If Man Utd needs a change, they'll have to dismiss him and find a new manager. To be fair, Man Utd's play has shown some promise this season. They appear more cohesive as a unit, both offensively and defensively. The team is well-organized, with shorter distances between the lines, making it harder for opponents to penetrate.

In the first half against Man City, Man Utd weren't bad. They won the ball high up the pitch at least four times, and with better execution in the subsequent counter-attacks, they could have scored. One weakness of the 3-4-2-1 is the vulnerability of the two holding midfielders to being outnumbered, but that didn't happen at Etihad. The reason was that Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, the two wingers supporting Benjamin Sesko, frequently tracked back.

This narrower formation helped to shield Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte in midfield. The defense and midfield also maintained a close proximity, unlike last season, when the defense tended to drop deep due to a lack of pace and confidence.

Disregarding the result and focusing on performance, Man Utd's start to the season hasn't been terrible. They should have taken points in the first match, where they outplayed Arsenal at Old Trafford. They also created enough chances in the first half against Fulham to win that game but failed to convert. Then came three points against Burnley in a difficult match where Amorim had to substitute Matheus Cunha early due to injury. Before the Manchester derby, Man Utd were among the Premier League leaders in shots and chances created, with Fernandes among the top assist providers.

Fernandes (center, number 8) is disappointed after Man Utd conceded their third goal against Man City at Etihad Stadium, in the fourth round of the Premier League on 14/9. Image: Reuters

The heavy defeat to Man City won't change Amorim's tactical approach. However, he needs to address the personnel issue, as he's misusing several players. Man Utd's squad clearly isn't what Amorim envisioned, having missed out on signing midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton – a player who could significantly improve their midfield combativeness and defensive solidity. Unable to drop Fernandes, Amorim needs at least two midfielders behind him for support, allowing his compatriot to return to his familiar number 10 role.

If Man Utd persist with this system and these players, including playing Fernandes as a number eight – a position he hasn't played enough to fully understand – mistakes like those against Man City will recur, further jeopardizing Amorim's future.

Vy Anh (according to BBC)