Manchester United legend Gordon Hill takes a look at Ruben Amorim’s current team and names one player he would want to be his teammate.
In comparison to previous Manchester United teams, the current squad has struggled to reach expectations, especially in the Premier League.
It has been 12 years since United were last crowned champions, a title won under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, and it doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to figure that standards have fallen.
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United are currently 10th in the Premier League after winning just four of their first seven games of the 2025/26 campaign. A shock defeat to Grimsby Town also saw United eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the second round.
Amorim must be patient as his new signings settle at Old Trafford, but he will be relieved to receive Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s backing during the international break. That means he can focus on getting results ahead of a trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
United will need their key players to perform at Anfield if they’re to come away with a positive result. That includes Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and new striker Benjamin Sesko.
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesGordon Hill admires Bruno Fernandes’ ability but questions his mentality
United have established themselves as one of the world’s biggest football clubs. That status was achieved by winning all that was to be won, featuring star players, and an incredible history of developing young talent.
One of the most admired players of the 70s was Gordon Hill, who won the 1977 FA Cup after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final. He spent approximately two and a half years at Old Trafford before being sold to Derby County by Dave Sexton in 1978.
Accumulating 134 appearances for United, Hill scored 51 goals as a dazzling winger with quality dribbling, pace and a powerful left foot.
In an exclusive interview with United In Focus, Hill was asked to name one player from the current United team that he would pick to be his teammate.
“I think the only one that you’re going to look at is Fernandes, but he would have to change a lot of his views and a lot of his ways because the boys that we played with wouldn’t stand for half the moaning that went on,” Hill explained.
“You know, people like [Roy] Keane would tell him to shut his mouth up.
“Keane wouldn’t have stood it. Martin Buchan didn’t. And people write to me and say, Gordon, was it true that Martin Buchan clipped you around the ear? Yes, it was. Did I deserve it? Yes, I did. Why? I didn’t pick up a player. But that was Martin’s frustration with wanting to win the game. And it was my frustration when I chased him that I didn’t want to be whacked around the head. But then it turns you around to say you’re both going or you’re all going for the same result.
“You’re all together, so to speak, the camaraderie. Do I see it in this team? I’m sorry, I don’t see the camaraderie at all. I see it as very fractured. I think it’s fractured.”
Fernandes is often seen complaining on the pitch, but as a captain, he can be excused for regularly being in the referee’s ear, as it’s part of his role.
That doesn’t change the fact Hill believes that Fernandes would have been pulled aside for his behaviour if he had played in previous United teams.
Bruno Fernandes misses training ahead of Liverpool clash
Fernandes was one of four United players who missed training on Thursday morning after being away with their national teams, according to BBC Sport.
18 United players were on international duty for the past two weeks, with a selected quartet given extra time off by Amorim.
Matheus Cunha, Amad and Casemiro also missed training.
Amorim is expected to give an update on his players when he speaks to the press on Friday evening.