'Doesn't make sense' - Amorim on strategy change

Manchester United have got themselves into a real old mess.

It was clear Ruben Amorim's appointment represented a significant tactical change for the players he was inheriting following his mid-season move from Sporting.

But I doubt anyone thought the bedding-in process would be quite so tortuous.

It seems obvious some of the players are uncomfortable with the switch to a three-man defence and wing-backs, which led to Amorim being asked after the 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle whether he was willing to change his system.

The answer was an emphatic no.

"I have to sell my idea," he said. "If I change all the time it is going to be even worse.

"I understand they have a lot of difficulties because they spent two years playing one way and now they are playing another. With a lot of losses, it is really tough on them. You can feel it, during the game I can feel it but I have to sell my idea because I don't have another one.

"When you have a change of coach, especially in this type of club, it is because they were not winning. They played in the system they were bought for and were chosen perfectly for that system. After two years, working in pre-season, they were losing.

"So am I going to change to that system to something that I don't believe in? That doesn't make sense."