Neville and Rooney express concern over Amorim’s United future

• Wayne Rooney said Manchester United have “got worse” under Ruben Amorim and admitted he cannot see signs of progress.
• Gary Neville said he is “worried” for Amorim’s future, warning that another defeat could bring big questions about his system.
• United sit 14th in the Premier League after a 3-0 defeat to City and face Chelsea next, with pressure mounting.

Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney both voiced concerns about Ruben Amorim’s future at Manchester United after Sunday’s 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City left the club languishing in 14th place.

United have lost two of their opening four league games and were also eliminated from the Carabao Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town, intensifying scrutiny on Amorim’s tenure.

Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney said: “I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be on the manager and the players. But it is very difficult to sit here and say we are seeing progression, and at least we’re seeing things that will get results in the near future. We’re seeing none of that, and it is very difficult. There was an image towards the end of the game where I saw the Manchester United fans leaving.

“You could hear the fans singing Amorim’s name, but I think that is so powerful that the United fans were leaving the game. You know the game is over and I think they were very disappointed in what they were seeing. It is hard to see how it continues.

“What are the patterns? What are we seeing what might improve the team moving forward?

“I think after the last year when Ten Hag got sacked and Ruben came in, we’re hearing how they’re going to play and it is going to change. I think if the manager is honest with himself, it has got worse.”

Neville echoed those concerns, telling Sky Sports after the match: “I think there will be some pressure applied to the manager and his rigidity of sticking with the system. There have been times when I have seen United lose this type of match when I feel angry and frustrated. I just feel nothing, which is even worse. This has been a nothing of a performance. United have just been beaten.

“With Chelsea next week, another defeat and big questions would start to be asked. I’m worried about the manager, I’m worried about what’s going to happen in this next few weeks. I don’t think it’s a time for panic, but I’ve seen this before, we’ve seen this film.”

United’s problems extend beyond the pitch. The club, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will publish its annual accounts on September 17, revealing the full extent of financial difficulties that minority owner Jim Ratcliffe warned earlier this year could leave them in danger of running out of money before the end of 2025.

With Chelsea visiting Old Trafford on Saturday, Amorim faces mounting pressure to find a response as United seek to avoid sliding further into crisis.