‘I watched Ten Hag’s back-four... some of the worst football I’ve seen from Man Utd’: Owen calls Amorim formation criticism ‘embarrassing’

Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has come to the defence of under-pressure manager Rúben Amorim, labelling suggestions that his preferred formation is the main reason behind the club’s current woes as “embarrassing.”

United currently sit 10th in the Premier League, having already suffered three defeats this season. Much of the criticism has centred around Amorim’s insistence on deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, with some pundits arguing that the tactical setup is at the heart of the team's poor form.

However, speaking to casino.co.uk, Owen firmly rejected the idea that United's struggles can be pinned solely on formation choices.

“They have changed the manager numerous times since Fergie left,” Owen said. “Then they blamed the players; spent billions on players and got some of the best in the world, only for the club to be seen as a bit of a graveyard for players in the last decade.”

Owen highlighted the repeated shifts in direction and personnel at Old Trafford over the past decade. From managerial changes to lavish spending sprees, and from boardroom reshuffles to infrastructure overhauls, the club has undergone significant transformations – none of which have delivered consistent success.

“Next it was the people buying the players, so everyone wanted rid of them,” he continued. “Then it was the board, so the board was shuffled around when Sir Jim Ratcliffe got involved.”

United have also faced criticism over their training facilities and stadium, with plans for a significant redevelopment of Old Trafford recently gaining traction. Owen pointed out that even these issues have been brought into the firing line as the club seeks answers to its continued decline.

“Then it’s the fault of the facilities so they wanted to revamp the training ground and put plans in for a new stadium. Then it’s the staff – so half the backroom staff, physios, doctors, canteen lady – the whole thing wiped clean for a fresh start.”

For Owen, the most recent focus on Amorim’s back-three system is simply another in a long line of scapegoats.

“The latest one is it’s because they’re playing a back-three. If I’m not wrong, I watched Erik ten Hag about a year ago playing a back-four, and it was some of the most awful football I’ve ever seen from a Manchester United team,” he remarked.

Owen admitted that the 3-4-2-1 system might not be his personal preference, nor does he necessarily believe Amorim should remain unwavering in his commitment to it. However, he was adamant that blaming the formation for United’s slump misses the broader picture.

“Some great teams over the years have played with a back-three. I’m not saying that’s my favourite formation, and I’m not saying Amorim is right to be steadfast in his beliefs,” he noted. “But I certainly don’t think all of United’s problems now are because they play with a back-three.”

He concluded by urging fans and pundits alike to look beyond surface-level tactical debates.

“It’s embarrassing if you’re going to say the main reason for the downturn is because they play a back-three,” Owen said. “I mean, it really isn’t. They could go back to a back-four and play as bad as they did under Ten Hag – then the screams would be equally as loud.”

With pressure mounting and scrutiny intensifying, Amorim will need to deliver results quickly if he is to silence his critics – regardless of whether he sticks with his favoured system or opts for a tactical rethink. (With inputs from Agencies)

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