Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's coach, revealed why he abandoned the three-back system, affirming that criticism did not influence his decision.
On 29 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Ruben Amorim hinted that the era of the three-defender system might be ending, confirming that the change was not due to pressure from the media or football experts.
Amorim abandoned the three-back system for the first time in the game against Newcastle United, switching to the traditional four-defender formation with two defensive midfielders. He admitted that toward the end, this setup almost turned into six defenders to preserve the lead, resulting in only the team's second clean sheet of the season.
Although he previously joked that not even “the Pope” could force him to change the system, Amorim confirmed that playing multiple systems was part of his original plan. However, changes would only come when the team performed well; otherwise, it would seem like yielding to external voices.
“When I came here last season, I understood there might not yet be players suited to a three-back system, but that was the beginning of the process. We were trying to build the team’s identity.”
“Today, the situation is different. We have fewer players and must adjust so they understand why we change. It’s not because of pressure from you [media] or the fans.”
“If you keep talking about changing the system all the time, I can’t change because the players would think I’m doing it because of you, and I believe that would be the end of the manager’s career.”
“When we perform well in our system, that is when it’s appropriate to change. When all players return, we won’t play with three defenders all the time.”