'I can stick with the things that I believe' - Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim shrugs off Sean Dyche criticism ahead of Nottingham Forest clash
Updated 30/10/2025 at 21:38 GMT
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is looking for four Premier League wins in a row this Saturday when he faces Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Speaking to the press, Ruben Amorim appeared unconcerned by comments from new Forest manager Sean Dyche, who said that he would have won more games at United by using a 4-4-2 system instead of Amorim's 3-4-3 setup.
Amorim admits United may have 'won more games' playing 4-4-2
Video credit: SNTV
Ruben Amorim conceded Sean Dyche might be correct in saying that he would have won more games at Manchester United with a 4-4-2 system, but said he would "stick with the things that I believe".
The Manchester United manager has come in for criticism in his first year in charge at Old Trafford after recording the club’s lowest Premier League finish last season, and failing to win the UEFA Europa League in a final against Tottenham Hotspur.
A slow start to this season saw the opprobrium intensify as he stuck to his 3-4-3 approach. However, three consecutive league victories, including a 2-1 win against bitter rivals Liverpool, has seen a new feeling of positivity around the club.
Their last outing was a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, and their next match comes against Nottingham Forest, who recently appointed Dyche as manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou, another coach who has received criticism for sticking to his own tactical principles.
While working as a pundit before his return to management, Dyche claimed he would have won more games with United if he had used a 4-4-2 system, and speaking to the press, Amorim was content to accept the former Burnley manager might well be right in his assessment.
However, he said that Dyche’s statement might have been influenced by the need to be outspoken while working for the media.
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He said: "First of all, maybe it's true, if we play 4-4-2, we win more games. But I always say that I have a way of playing that is going to take a while and then in the future it's going to be better. So we don't know that. Then I can look at Sean Dyche as a manager and then as a pundit. If you are a pundit, and you don't say very strong things, I don't want to watch you. I'm the same.
"So I can understand that it's a completely different job. And I know that Sean Dyche is really smart, and he knows how to play the game. And he also understands that one thing is when we are seeing the game and talking about the game, another thing is to coach a team. So I understand that. I have nothing to say. I just want to win the next one."
The match against Forest will mark a year in the job for Amorim, and looking back, the Portuguese said that he had endured some difficult times following his arrival from Sporting CP.
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Video credit: SNTV
He said: "It was a journey. It was a big journey. It was tough. It was really tough. Good moments, bad moments. I learned a lot. That is really important.
"I found out that even in my lower moments I can stick with the things that I believe and that is a good thing for anyone to understand that. Today the answer is different from three weeks ago. So it's important to understand that.
"So it's one of the biggest honours of my life to be here, and I want to continue here for many years."
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