Ruben Amorim must tackle Manchester United’s ‘psychological weakness’ if he wants to succeed where previous managers have failed, Ian Ladyman has warned.
Speaking on the Daily Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, Ladyman praised United’s summer transfer business but warned their form will remain inconsistent without addressing the ’emotional fragility’ that has hung over the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
Despite a positive preseason tour, fan optimism has been dashed by poor performances against Fulham and Arsenal, and a shock Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town.
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When Manchester United correspondent Nathan Salt suggested the mood around Amorim remains positive internally, Ladyman said the performances tell a different story.
‘Amorim hasn’t addressed something fundamental Nathan’, Ladyman challenged.
‘There’s a weakness in that Manchester United squad – an emotional and psychological frailty.
‘None of their previous managers since Ferguson have got to grips with it. It feels like I have been watching it for so long.
‘For example, they played really well in that first half against Burnley. It wasn’t their fault they weren’t up by more than one goal. They could have easily been.
‘But you know that if Burnley somehow get the next goal in the game, all bets are off because it’s Manchester United. That’s what happened.
‘They haven’t addressed that yet – whether that’s because they’re not strong enough mentally or because they haven’t got enough leaders, I don’t know. But it remains a problem.’
Whistleblowers co-host Mark Clattenburg agreed, arguing that United’s psychological weakness stems from their lack of a reliable spine through the team.
While Manchester United strengthened in attack this summer, spending £207 million on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, some fans have expressed concern about starting another season without any midfield athleticism.
There are also question marks over whether the deadline-day acquisition of Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens has the necessary experience to solve United’s goalkeeping issues.
‘I have always loved a spine’, Clattenburg said.
‘That starts from the goal – and there’s still an issue there at Manchester United. The defenders lack confidence in their goalkeeper.
‘You certainly don’t have a Roy Keane or Paul Scholes who used to put their foot in and dominate in the midfield. There’s a softness in the middle of the park.
‘When a game’s flat, you need to get the crowd up. That might just be a tackle. I don’t see Manchester United players doing that anymore. Old Trafford used to be a fortress.’
Salt pointed to Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes as the type of player who could address United’s midfield weaknesses.
He said: ‘If I could pick a midfielder out in terms of establishing a mentality at Manchester United, I would pick Bruno Guimaraes.
‘You saw against Liverpool his drive and mentality. United need a player like that.’
To listen to the full interview with Nathan Salt about Manchester United’s woes and to hear Mark Clattenburg rant about Anthony Gordon’s response to the Isak transfer saga, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts.
