Manchester United’s struggles are attributed to personnel issues rather than the tactical system employed by manager Ruben Amorim. Despite improvements in team structure under the 3-4-2-1 formation, essential errors persist, leading to goals conceded that are largely due to player positioning and selection mistakes. Key incidents in a recent match against Manchester City illustrate the defensive lapses, particularly involving Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw, who appear misaligned in their roles.
The analysis emphasizes that aligning players with their natural strengths is critical. With repeated mistakes from players in unsuitable positions, the likelihood of continued defensive failures is high unless personnel adjustments are made. Murphy concludes that without rectifying these individual discrepancies—like transitioning Fernandes back to a more attacking role—the same issues will likely plague the team moving forward.