Ruben Amorim has hinted at tensions behind the scenes at Manchester United relating to his 3-4-3 formation and an inability to sign the players his preferred system requires.

While previewing Sunday’s Premier League trip to Leeds United at his pre-match press conference, Amorim refused to elaborate on his recent comments about how United must spend “a lot of money” to play a “perfect” version of his 3-4-3 shape, and that he was beginning to understand that he had to “adapt” his methods.

Amorim subsequently deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation in United’s following game — Boxing Day’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United — before reverting to the 3-4-3 shape for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, speaks daily with Amorim and the pair have held discussions on the formation in the past. Wilcox is known to like the 4-3-3 that brought Manchester City dominance.

When asked on Friday to clarify what he meant by his pre-Newcastle comments and why he had not realised those limitations in implementing a 3-4-3 earlier, Amorim said: “I don’t want to talk about that. I just focus on the Leeds game.”

The United head coach agreed that it was unlike him to refuse to answer a question, but insisted that he does not regret his pre-Newcastle remarks.

When asked if something had changed with regards to United’s transfer budget or if he had spoken to Wilcox, Amorim reiterated: “I don’t want to talk about that. You are very smart.”

Amorim’s side played with a back four during December’s victory over Newcastle (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Amorim had earlier sounded pessimistic about United’s chances of reinforcing their squad during the January transfer window, telling reporters that no conversations are currently taking place to make changes to the squad, on either an incoming or outgoing basis.

United have held a strong interest in Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who was considered as an option for Amorim’s No 10 positions during the summer, and whose contract includes a £65million, time-sensitive release clause which is currently active, but his preferred destination is Manchester City.

Before the 25-year-old’s preference for City emerging, Amorim claimed it is “possible that (United) can do something” in the January market. Club sources have previously suggested that any incoming business in January would focus on accelerating moves for long-term targets, rather than filling short-term gaps in the squad.

As revealed by The Athletic last month, Amorim addressed his players before facing Wolves at Molineux on December 8 and effectively told them that “a change is coming”, leaving the impression that he was planning a shift in tactical approach.

United subsequently lined up in a shape more akin to a back four in the following week’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth — the final game before Amad and Bryan Mbeumo departed to represent Ivory Coast and Cameroon respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Amad and Mbeumo are among eight first team players unavailable to Amorim, with captain Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt all sidelined. Noussair Mazraoui is also competing at AFCON 2025 with hosts Morocco.

While those absences are one factor behind Amorim’s tactical changes of late, the United head coach has suggested that his experimentation with a back four will continue once players return from injury and international duty.

Before facing Newcastle, Amorim said: “We can play a different way to take more quality from these players. I have the feeling that if we have to play a perfect 3-4-3, we need to spend a lot of money and we need time. I’m starting to understand that is not going to happen, so maybe I have to adapt.”

United travel to Elland Road on Sunday to face Leeds, who are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games.