Dutch football icon Marco van Basten has delivered a fierce and uncompromising assessment of Manchester United’s recent team selection and overall direction, reserving his strongest criticism for head coach Ruben Amorim following the club’s 2–1 loss to Aston Villa.
The defeat, while narrow on the scoreboard, has intensified debate around United’s tactical identity and decision-making, with Van Basten openly questioning whether the club is moving in the right direction.
Speaking after the match, the former Ballon d’Or winner expressed disbelief at some of the choices made in United’s starting lineup, arguing that they exposed long-standing flaws rather than addressing them. Central to his critique was the decision to start Manuel Ugarte in midfield.
Van Basten described the call as confusing and symptomatic of deeper structural issues at Old Trafford, suggesting it highlighted a lack of clear planning rather than a calculated tactical move.
According to Van Basten, Ugarte struggled to cope with the intensity and rhythm of the contest, failing to assert himself in an area of the pitch that demands authority and awareness.
He argued that the midfielder was unable to control the tempo, shield the defence, or move the ball effectively, which left United stretched and disorganised for large spells of the game.
In Van Basten’s view, this lack of midfield control played directly into Aston Villa’s hands, allowing them to dictate the flow and exploit gaps with relative ease.
The criticism did not stop with Ugarte. Van Basten also highlighted a broader lack of cohesion between United’s midfield and defensive lines, suggesting the team looked poorly balanced and unsure of its collective responsibilities.
Young defender Leny Yoro was mentioned as one of several players who endured a challenging afternoon, as Villa repeatedly found space between the lines. Van Basten argued that this disconnect forced United into a reactive mindset, constantly responding to danger rather than imposing themselves on the match.
Despite occasional moments of resistance, Van Basten felt the overall display reflected a side lacking confidence, structure, and clarity.
He suggested that too many players appeared uncertain about their roles, which in turn undermined any attempt to build sustained momentum. For a club of Manchester United’s stature, he implied, such issues should not still be so evident.
In particularly pointed remarks, Van Basten compared Ugarte’s signing and deployment to previous transfer decisions that, in his opinion, failed to address the club’s fundamental weaknesses.
He warned that United risk falling into a familiar pattern—recruiting players without fully resolving core problems—thereby repeating expensive errors instead of learning from them.
Unless swift and decisive changes are made, he cautioned, the club could find itself facing challenges far more serious than an occasional defeat.
The loss to Aston Villa has once again reignited discussion around United’s recruitment strategy and tactical philosophy.
Observers are questioning whether players are being used in systems that maximise their strengths, and whether the club’s leadership is providing the manager with the right tools to compete consistently at the top level.
For Van Basten, the concern extends beyond a single match or individual performance; he sees a recurring pattern that continues to stall progress.
As scrutiny grows around Amorim and his squad, the coming weeks will be pivotal. Manchester United must now demonstrate that this setback is a temporary stumble rather than evidence of deeper, systemic trouble.
For critics like Van Basten, however, tolerance is wearing thin, and his warning is clear: without clear direction, smarter decisions, and improved performances, the consequences for one of football’s biggest institutions could be severe.
