The latest Manchester United news as Ruben Amorim has been criticised for repeatedly deploying one particular area on the pitch, with Rio Ferdinand speaking out
06:27, 23 Sep 2025Updated 09:02, 23 Sep 2025
Rio Ferdinand has questioned Ruben Amorim’s constant changes to his centre-backs(Image: PA)
Rio Ferdinand has criticised Ruben Amorim for constantly changing his centre-backs in games at Manchester United.
Although United won their last Premier League game 2-1 against Chelsea, Amorim’s decision almost came back to bite after Trevoh Chalobah grabbed a late consolation. The hosts led 2-0 at Old Trafford following Robert Sanchez’s dismissal in the fifth minute.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro scored the goals, before the latter was sent off on the stroke of half-time. Chalobah was later found unmarked in the box and headed home a consolation goal.
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Harry Maguire began as part of the back three but was taken off with 20 minutes remaining and replaced by Leny Yoro. United’s vulnerability at set pieces is well-documented, though much of the concern has stemmed from uncertainty around their goalkeepers, Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana, who joined Trabzonspor on loan until the end of the season.
Speaking on the Rio Presents podcast, Ferdinand spoke about Amorim’s constant changes at centre-back.
Sharing the clip on X, he captioned the post: “Why do we keep changing our centre backs during the game?! I WOULD HAVE HATED THIS!”
And on the podcast, he said: “I look at teams that win, right? Whether it’s my team, whether it’s the old Ruben Amorim teams with Tony Adams or with Martin Keown, Sol Campbell, or John Terry, William Gallas, now [Virgil] van Dijk and [Ibrahima] Konate, the same centre halves play every week.
“There’s a consistency with team selection, with that pairing at the back. Paris Saint-Germain, same two centre backs, all the way through, bang, winning the trophy.
“Consistency of players in that area of the pitch gives you a better chance to win. This chopping and changing is just, I find it wild – I don’t like it and I wouldn’t like it if I played.”
When asked about what affects a centre-half when coming on, Ferdinand added: “Your first one, two, three sprints you are absolutely hanging onto things, your lungs are on the floor, red raw.
“Getting into a game is difficult man, and they’re just getting into that speed of the game and the rhythm of it, it’s hard man.”
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