Gary Neville has suggested that Manchester United’s home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday is actually a “massive positive” for new head coach Ruben Amorim.
United had the majority of possession and accumulated a higher xG (2.24) over the course of the game, compared to Bournemouth (1.24), with more shots on target and three times as many touches in the opposition box, but failed to score and conceded three times.
It means Amorim has won only four of his opening nine games since taking charge a month ago, with four of the last six against Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur (Carabao Cup) and Bournemouth ending in defeat. United were 3-0 down against Spurs before being gifted two goals.
An impassioned Neville, speaking about his former club on his self-titled Sky Sports podcast, said the run of results is actually highlighting to Amorim where the shortfalls are, and what needs to change.
“I think it’s a massive positive that Ruben Amorim is seeing what he’s got,” Neville said. “In the past, there have been times where you can be kidded into thinking you have got a better group of players, because of decent results and moving up the league. But they are a mile away in every single way.
“Playing the way Amorim wants to play, with the 3-4-3, he’s going to have to change it. He’s given everyone a try by rotating the team and I do not think there will be many he’s watched and thought, ‘yes, I want you on the bus’. They are all very mediocre, and I don’t know how it’s happened – they are better than what they are showing, let’s be clear. But it’s a sustained pattern.
“It’s a big positive that Ruben Amorim has an opportunity to look at these players in the cold light of day. He’s got six months of a beauty parade if you like – which is more of an ugly parade. He’s seeing what Manchester United fans have watched for ten years, there has got to be a cultural overhaul.
“It is a real torrid time, there is not a lot to like about performance levels or the way they play. They are all lads trying their best, it’s not a personal assault, but they are not good enough to play for Manchester United, because this club aims to be at the top.
“It’s quite clear watching these players, they are not good enough.”
United are next in action away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day, with the hosts in the relegation zone but coming off the back of a 3-0 away win over fellow strugglers Leicester City.
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