Manchester United

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We asked for your views on whether Bruno Fernandes is undroppable from the Manchester United team, and whether the captain fits into Ruben Amorim's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation.

Here are some of your comments:

Dave: When Kobbie Mainoo came on and Bruno Fernandes pushed up into the number 10 position he was more comfortable and looked more dangerous. Apart from his passing accuracy, which was poor throughout the match. As a defender it's easy to see that he's a liability, not strong in the tackle and doesn't see danger. It's very simple - play him in an advanced position.

Andrew: Fernandes is the most consistent player United have. There is no way he can be dropped. Amorim has not been able to get the best out of rest of the players in the team.

Richard: In hindsight, we should have taken the huge offer for Bruno [from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal] and run to the bank with it. It's sad it's come to this but he's holding us back, as opposed to leading us forward. Each passing game only highlights further that once again our midfield is in dire need of support.

Barry: If you have a player who is world class in his favoured position then why would you, unless you do not understand the fundamentals of football, play him out of position?

Graham: Fernandes needs to be dropped. He was very poor on Sunday, as he has been for a long time. Why can't United make any dead balls count, or for that matter any crosses?

Stephen: We do not have a squad that suits Amorim's preferred formation and, given the recent transfer window, that is shocking. Manuel Ugarte is the closest to the type of mobile midfielder needed, but he isn't quite good enough. Fernandes can't play that role. Amorim has to accept this and play a style that suits his squad. If he can't change then I'm afraid he must go.

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Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath reflect on Sunday's derby defeat by Manchester City and pay tribute to Ricky Hatton.

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Matthijs de Ligt feels hard work is the only way for Manchester United to get out of their current cycle.

In terms of margin of defeat, United have not suffered a heavier derby loss than Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City since they were hammered 6-1 at Old Trafford in 2011.

It was yet another day when improvement in their overall play was overshadowed by the result, caused by a toxic combination of a failure to take chances and being too easy to score against.

"Do you see the difference? Do you feel like we're on the brink of that?" said De Ligt, when asked if the United squad were on the brink of gaining more confidence. "Hopefully, in the next game.

"We're working hard every day, so hopefully we can get there quickly.

"We have to improve as a team and hopefully get better but we have to prove it, otherwise it's no use."

United officials have repeatedly stressed they regard Amorim's appointment as a long-term project and nothing communicated in the aftermath of Sunday's loss is at odds with that.

However, with each damaging defeat, belief is undermined.

Few United supporters remained in the stadium to respond to the appreciative applause from the visiting players, who, it is clear, are hurting.

"I am feeling bad," defender Noussair Mazraoui told MUTV.

"I am disappointed in myself, in the team and disappointed for the fans that we couldn't bring the performance we did lately.

"A derby makes it more special and more emotional, so if you lose but you have played well and created the chances we have done in the last games, you can accept it.

"But this was just not good enough.

"It is hard to say [where specifically it went wrong] because you are always full of emotion straight after the game.

"I always try to calm down and try to analyse the game, otherwise, I will just point fingers and probably eventually it is not the guys or something that I point out now."

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BBC Sport columnist Danny Murphy believes Manchester United's problem is not the system being employed by Ruben Amorim, but the personnel being used in that system.

And although former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker partially agrees, in the sense that Amorim does not have the players needed to play his 3-4-2-1 formation, he also thinks the United boss needs to change.

"It is not good enough and it is Amorim who puts the spotlight on himself," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Amorim is not getting the performances, but he is also upsetting more players in the dressing room and club.

"Imagine how Kobbie Mainoo feels now? He could have gone out on loan.

"How does he think these players will want to come together and unite for him?

"They lost the Manchester derby without Manchester City even being at their best.

"City were, at the most, in second gear and didn't really have to push themselves.

"They played through United way too easily and that is because the back three does not work. He does not have the right defenders for it to work.

"It makes them too easy to score past and run through.

"From what I can see, I don't think the players are buying into it any more.

"Amorim has had long enough and he has been given opportunity, but no one sees progression.

"There are high standards at Manchester United because of the history but he is not even meeting decent standards, so where do you go from here?

"The responsibility always falls on the manager."

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Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen says it "surprises" him that the club have kept faith with head coach Ruben Amorim despite continued poor results.

"It's not working and it hasn't been working for a long, long time," Meulensteen told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"It just baffles me.

"For me, there's only one way this is going to end and that's straight to the exit.

"It already surprises me that they have been carrying on for so long. You get the same messages all the time - it is like a broken record.

"United doesn't perform, they keep losing, and the manager says he doesn't want to change so how long do you want to go on for?

"I find it really baffling."

Kobbie Mainoo again did not start for United in Sunday's derby loss to neighbours Manchester City and Meulensteen believes he would have offered more in the midfield area than Casemiro did.

"He brings a lot of energy in that midfield but Amorim makes the decision to play Casemiro there," he added.

"He doesn't have those legs to cover that area in midfield so it would be sensible to put someone like Mainoo in there.

"We all know what he can do and what he has showed previously for United."

Listen to the full interview from 07:53 on BBC Sounds

Is Bruno Fernandes undroppable or does Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim have to bench his captain if he is to stick with his favoured formation?

Fernandes, who is arguably one of the best number 10s in the world, is playing in a deeper centre-midfield role as a number eight this season.

Questions have already been asked over his ability to play this position, but have resurfaced after he lost Phil Foden when he ran off the back of him and Foden found the back of the net to open the scoring in Manchester City's 3-0 win over United on Sunday.

"It was not the best performance we have seen from Manchester United," said former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "It was mediocre.

"It was Fernandes against Foden and if you look at Foden's goal, he basically walked past him and had a free header in the box. Fernandes made it easy for Foden to score and be good.

"This is the ongoing debate about Fernandes in the deeper role because he doesn't have the instincts to be a defensive midfielder.

"It is not necessarily Fernandes' fault and more Ruben Amorim for insisting that he must play in this deeper role where there are clearly flaws and weaknesses.

"We all seem to know he plays as a number 10 other than Amorim."

Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, speaking on the latest episode of his BBC podcast, added: "The problem with this system is having two in midfield. One is Bruno Fernandes, who is a fantastic player and scores so many great goals.

"But you do want to see him further forward. The players have not got the energy and legs to cover the full width of the pitch and go up and down. They're getting overrun and overpowered in that midfield."

If Amorim insists on his 3-4-2-1 formation then does Fernandes have to be sacrificed? Or is he undroppable?

Get in touch with your views here

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Man City fans

Anurag: Much-needed win! Terrific performance from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden as they have also done against United in the past! Loved it from the first minute, and shoutout to Donnarumma and Khusanov for their great defensive work.

Brian: Stunning performance. City found their mojo and the return to form of Foden inspired the whole team to play with passion and show that will to win. On this form, City will be a force to be reckoned with in both the Premier League and in the Champions League. This was an amazing watch. The tide has turned. Confidence in all areas of the pitch.

CF: Manchester is blue! Some incredible saves from Donnarumma, a beautiful goal from Foden, who has finally returned, a near perfect performance from Haaland both defensively and in attack, and gorgeous assists from Doku. A masterclass team performance worthy of the Manchester derby.

Andy: A good performance, but still some work to be done. City gave the ball away too often and might have been punished if playing more accomplished opponents. On the plus side, Haaland and Foden were outstanding, Khusanov showed just how good he can be and Donnarumma had a flawless introduction to life in Manchester. If City carry this into Thursday's encounter with Napoli the signs are promising.

Man Utd fans

Mark: No point spending £200m on forwards when you defend like that! Back three too slow. Where is the the passion?

Andy: United will start to score goals. They have bought wisely up front, but are completely at sea defensively. They have to go to a flat back four to steady the ship. And if that works, it will make Ruben Amorim look tactically naive for not doing it sooner. I like Amorim and would like him to be given time, but he's digging a hole for himself.

Rob: Same old story. Amorim always states "we have to do better" - we know that! But it doesn't get any better. The frustration is killing me. Get rid and go back to a classic formation of play.

Graham: We were rubbish - again. We just don't have the quality. We're kidding ourselves about Ugarte, and Shaw looked pedestrian. The manager is getting away with being clueless. All must go.

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Manchester United have already suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat by League Two Grimsby in the opening weeks of the 2025-26 campaign.

Alarmingly they have also managed only two goals from open play, while losing twice in their opening four league fixtures - with four points their poorest return at this stage since 1992-93 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

By then, though, Ferguson already had some credit in the bank having won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup, while he guided United to a runners-up league finish in his first full season (1987-88).

In contrast, Amorim's 36% win rate across all competitions is the worst of any permanent United manager since World War Two and his win record is a dismal 26% in the league.

Of the 17 sides who have been in the Premier League throughout since Amorim's tenure began, his United team have the worst record - alongside Tottenham - with just 31 points from 31 games.

"Quite a lot of league seasons that is relegation form," said former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

"What is important when you're trying to implement a new style is you win games as well while you're doing that."

Rooney also echoed comments made by other former players now working in the media when he addressed Amorim's insistence on deploying two central midfielders, often against opposition sides featuring three.

"I have had my time as a manager, and I know how it works, and I know how it is when someone else looks and critiques your formation. I can understand that, but it is so obvious," Rooney added.

"If you're struggling, you have to put three in midfield and give yourself a chance to compete."

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Manchester United are interested in Nottingham Forest's £70m-rated midfielder Elliot Anderson, but the England international, 22, is happy at the City Ground and has no plans to leave. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, United will rival Manchester City in the race to sign Inter Milan's 29-year-old Netherlands full-back Denzel Dumfries. (Football Insider), external

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Pundits Theo Walcott and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

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• Burnley 0-1 Liverpool

• Man City 3-0 Man Utd

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

In the match build-up, Ruben Amorim was asked who had the bigger issues to resolve - him or Pep Guardiola.

Amorim was incredulous.

"To compare me with the situation of Guardiola? Is just a joke. I think we have bigger problems," he said.

Manchester United, who went into the derby ahead of their rivals in the table for the first time since 2020, did well for long periods. Yet it was Manchester City who secured a deserved and very comfortable 3-0 win because, when it really mattered, they were a different class to their visitors.

They had a couple of opportunities to really threaten the home goal in the first half. Unfortunately, on the first occasion, Amad Diallo's pass to Bryan Mbeumo was overhit and too wide. On the second, Benjamin Sesko played Mbeumo into trouble when a better execution would have sent the Cameroon forward clear.

On his first Premier League start, Sesko had one opportunity when he was sent running at the City goal, only for the Slovenian to take a heavy first touch and chip his shot into Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had closed the gap right down.

Presented with a similar situation in the second half, Erling Haaland forced his way past Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw and then calmly chipped over an advancing Altay Bayindir.

Amorim was right. He has much bigger problems than Guardiola.

That is the easy bit. The big question is how can he solve them?

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's defeat by Manchester City: "If you look at the goals we can avoid those goals. That was the biggest difference. We can do better, especially the second goal. We suffered goals we can avoid.

"The biggest difference was when we had transitions, we didn't score. In the second half they did better in transition and we suffered in that moment.

"We can do better, that is clear but again transitions - the third goal, lack of quality in the connection, people don't know who is going to the ball and then the guy is free to score. The first one he is in the middle of four guys and we can be aggressive in that moment.

"In these kind of games we need to be perfect and in this game we were not perfect. The frustration is always the same because with the amount of chances we need to score goals.

"We need to work on a lot of things for the next game."

Did you know?

• Manchester United have picked up just 14 points in 16 away games in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim (W3 D5 L8); since his first game in charge in November last season, this is the fewest away points of any ever-present side.

• This was the 57th Premier League Manchester derby – but the first of those not to see a single yellow or red card shown.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Man Utd's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City make six changes to the side that suffered a last-gasp defeat at Brighton before the international break.

Deadline day signing Gianluigi Donnarumma comes straight into the starting line-up for his debut, replacing James Trafford.

Local boy Phil Foden also starts with Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O'Reilly and Jeremy Doku coming in.

Matheus Nunes and Oscar Bobb drop to the bench, while John Stones, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are not involved.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders, Silva, Doku, Foden, Haaland.

Subs: Ake, Bobb, Gonzalez, Lewis, Mfuni, Savinho, Mukasa, Nunes, Trafford

Manchester United make four changes to the side that edged out Burnley in their previous game.

Benjamin Sesko gets his first start up front, with Noussair Mazraoui making his first appearance of the season following a muscular issue.

Patrick Dorgu and surprisingly Manuel Ugarte also come in, with Casemiro on the bench alongside new signing Senne Lammens.

Diogo Dalot, Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha miss out.

Man Utd XI: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Dorgu, Ugarte, Fernandes, Diallo, Mbeumo, Sesko.

Subs: Casemiro, Fredricson, Heaton, Heaven, Lammens, Leon, Maguire, Mainoo Zirkzee