Former England striker and football pundit Michael Owen has fired back at suggestions that Ruben Amorim’s formation is the main cause of Manchester United’s ongoing struggles this season.
Owen described such claims as “embarrassing” and “a lazy excuse”, insisting that the club’s problems run much deeper than tactical setup. “You can’t just point fingers at a formation and ignore the lack of confidence, discipline, and leadership on the pitch,” Owen said during his analysis on Premier League coverage.
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Under Amorim, United have experimented with different tactical shapes — most notably a 3-4-3 system — but results have remained inconsistent. Critics argue that the system doesn’t suit United’s current squad, particularly with several players struggling to adapt to new roles.
However, Owen believes the real issue lies in execution and mentality, not tactics. “If players aren’t performing the basics — pressing, marking, communicating — then no formation in the world will fix that,” he added.
The former Liverpool and United forward also defended Amorim’s efforts, pointing out that transitions take time. “He’s a good coach with clear ideas. The problem is people expect instant results in a team that’s been unstable for years.”
As pressure mounts at Old Trafford, Owen’s comments add an important layer to the ongoing debate — suggesting that Manchester United’s issues go far beyond formations and may require a cultural reset rather than another tactical overhaul.
