Manchester United’s 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Manchester City has shaken supporters, but what truly shocked the football world came after the final whistle. Manager Ruben Amorim, already under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, responded in a way few anticipated—by publicly placing blame on one of his own players instead of accepting responsibility himself.
For weeks, United fans and pundits alike had criticized Amorim for his questionable tactics, risky team selections, and inability to adapt during matches. Many expected him, after such a heavy derby defeat, to once again shoulder the responsibility and protect his squad. However, according to leaks from behind the scenes, Amorim took an entirely different approach this time.
“Don’t point the finger at me—it wasn’t my fault,” Amorim reportedly said. “I gave everything I could, but one player completely let us down. He’s too slow to react, he gave away the first goal, and he’s constantly sluggish with the ball. It makes me sick.”
These words, once revealed, created immediate uproar at Old Trafford. Fans, who had assumed their manager would defend his squad, are now left debating who Amorim was targeting. Many have gone back to rewatch Manchester City’s opening goal, which came just 14 minutes into the match when Erling Haaland capitalized on a defensive lapse. Amorim has previously warned that some players do not suit his high-intensity, quick-transition style of play, and this derby disaster seems to have confirmed his doubts.
The fallout has been fierce. A section of supporters argue that Amorim is simply deflecting attention to preserve his own reputation, while others feel he has only spoken out loud what many observers have already suspected—that certain individuals in the squad are holding United back. Yet regardless of where the truth lies, his blunt remarks have risked shattering the fragile unity within the dressing room. Reports suggest several senior players are outraged by his comments, while younger members of the team now fear being singled out in the future.
This defeat now feels like more than just another painful derby loss. It underscores the gulf between Pep Guardiola’s City and Amorim’s United—not only in terms of quality on the pitch but also in terms of spirit and collective mentality. Amorim was hired with the promise of building a new era at Old Trafford, yet this damaging episode threatens to define his tenure in an entirely negative light.
The pressing question now is whether Amorim will stand firm and double down on his sharp criticism, or whether he will attempt to rebuild trust inside a fractured squad. One thing, however, is undeniable: Manchester United’s latest crisis is not coming from pundits or the media, but from within the club itself, tearing at its foundations from the inside.
