Manchester United supporters have begun revisiting and questioning several puzzling choices made by Ruben Amorim during his spell at Old Trafford, with one particular decision now drawing renewed criticism in the aftermath of the club’s latest derby triumph.
On Saturday afternoon, United hosted their fiercest rivals, Manchester City, in what marked their first Premier League fixture since Amorim’s dismissal.
The match also represented Michael Carrick’s debut as interim manager, and heading into the game, optimism among the fanbase was limited.
Many supporters feared that facing City at such a turbulent moment could result in a difficult and potentially damaging afternoon.
Instead, United delivered a commanding and disciplined performance, sweeping aside City with a 2–0 victory that exceeded expectations.
Several players produced standout displays, and the result propelled United up to fourth place in the Premier League table, instantly lifting the mood around Old Trafford.
In the glow of such a significant win, attention quickly turned to the contrast between Carrick’s approach and that of his predecessor.
Fans began reflecting on Amorim’s time in charge and questioning decisions that, in hindsight, now appear even more baffling. Amorim oversaw 63 matches as United manager, recording 24 wins, 18 draws, and 21 defeats.
Those figures left him with a win percentage of just 31.9 percent — the lowest of any permanent manager in the club’s history.
Throughout his tenure, Amorim attracted criticism for several tactical and selection choices, particularly regarding the handling of younger players and the overall balance of the team.
However, following the City match, one decision has come under especially intense scrutiny: his use of captain Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes delivered a dominant performance against City, operating in an advanced midfield role where he could influence the game close to goal. His creativity, vision, and leadership were central to United’s attacking fluency.
This only intensified frustration among fans who recalled that Amorim had frequently deployed Fernandes in a deeper, more defensive midfield position.
Social media quickly filled with reactions. One supporter joked online, pointing out the contrast by saying that Amorim used to field Fernandes as a holding midfielder.
Another fan argued that one of Amorim’s biggest mistakes was consistently playing Fernandes out of position, insisting that the Portuguese playmaker is far more dangerous when stationed closer to the opposition’s box.
Others were far less forgiving. One post claimed it was no surprise that the new manager immediately reverted to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 setup, with Fernandes as the number 10 and Kobbie Mainoo alongside him in midfield, noting that the team instantly looked more balanced and functional. That same fan harshly labeled Amorim’s approach as misguided and damaging.
Fernandes’ statistics from the City match only added fuel to the debate. He became the first player to create six or more chances and register an assist in a Premier League game against a Pep Guardiola–managed Manchester City side.
Additionally, he is now only the second player to create at least five chances from open play against City, following Bryan Mbeumo’s achievement the previous year.
For many United fans, these numbers and the overall performance have reinforced a lingering belief: that Amorim’s misuse of key players, particularly Fernandes, may have cost the team consistency and momentum.
In contrast, Carrick’s immediate tactical clarity has prompted supporters to wonder just how different the season might have been under a more natural deployment of United’s captain.
