Rio Ferdinand has urged Ruben Amorim to make Man United's stars “uncomfortable” and maintain his tactical approach despite their poor form.
A miserable 2-0 defeat on Monday night at home to Newcastle leaves the Red Devils in 14th place in the Premier League and just seven points above 18th-placed Ipswich Town.
To make matters worse, there are already doubts about the tactical approach of Amorim, who have already suffered four consecutive defeats.
However, former United defender Ferdinand has insisted the former Sporting Lisbon boss should hold firm to lift them out of their current stalemate.
speaking in Rio Fernando presentsHe said, “You look at him and say, 'He still seems pretty confident (in the) long term.' He's not going to change his ideas in the short term.” And I totally agree.
'If it changes and goes back to what they were doing before… it's not like they're winning! So why would you go back to what players are most comfortable with?
Rubén Amorim's Manchester United suffered their fourth consecutive defeat on Monday night
Questions have been raised over whether United have the personnel to play with Amorim's system.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand urged Amorim to stick with the 3-4-3 system
“I think his whole thinking, and I agree with him, is that if this team was trained and understood the system, then I think they would have a chance of being able to accomplish what he wants.”
“I don't think we can expect Amorim to go back to writing, what they played before, to try to stabilize the ship. Because it wasn't a stable ship anyway.
“I really think he has to keep doing what he's doing. He said there will be teething problems, maybe not as many as we're having now, but I don't think he understood what he was getting into.
“The scars that many players have as individuals and as a team are so big and deep that it will take a long time to recover.”
After the defeat against the Magpies, several United players were put under the microscope by experts, including central defender Lisandro Martínez.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggested the Argentine was the weak link in United's team and said he did not fit into a back three system.
However, now, Ferdinand has suggested that there are two other names who are a higher priority to replace within the United squad.
'I think we are looking at two players on this team who were the subject of a lot of criticism after yesterday; casemiro and Eriksen.
Ferdinand insisted that the Portuguese coach has to “continue doing what he does” at United
Ferdinand also pointed out Christian Eriksen and Casemiro as problems within the United team.
'One of the key elements of this system is that you need legs and physique. And Eriksen and Casemiro are probably two of the weakest parts of their games, so that doesn't help.
“But I would still say that if they could coach and he was able to implement their philosophies, then those two players wouldn't be so out of place.”
“So I don't think it's as simple as 'Let's put in two more mobile players and everything will be better.'” “I still think we will have the same problems.”
As Ferdinand analyzed the problems that still remain at United, his mind returned to the tenure of Ralf Rangnick, who was caretaker manager for 29 games in 2021-22.
The German manager, at the time, insisted that United needed “open heart surgery” to rebuild the squad.
The comments were made in April 2022 after United suffered a 4-0 defeat at Anfield in one of Rangnick's final games in charge.
After that game he said: “We need positive energy for the new team and the new coach.
Former caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick claimed United had to perform 'open heart surgery'
“It is not the quality of the manager, but the change of all the other things that have brought the club to the position we are in now.”
'You don't even need glasses to see problems. Now it's just a matter of how to fix them. Not minor cosmetic things. This is open heart surgery. “If everyone realizes this has to happen and works together, it won’t have to take years.”
Reflecting on those comments, Ferdinand said: “Ralf Rangnick said this needs open heart surgery, not a quick fix.” He wasn't wrong!
'How true do those words ring now? He was vilified and ridiculed when he said those words. He was very right. And I think Amorim would sit behind closed doors and think the same thing.”