Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that David Moyes is outperforming him as he struggles to turn around Manchester United’s fortunes. Ahead of their visit to Goodison Park, where they face a resurgent Everton, Amorim admitted that Moyes has managed to get his new team firing, while United continue to stutter under his guidance.
United have won only four of their 14 league matches since Amorim took charge, whereas Everton have picked up 13 points from a possible 18 since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche in mid-January. Amorim credited the former United manager for the turnaround, emphasizing that momentum is crucial in football.
“David Moyes is doing a better job than me, it’s quite simple,” he admitted. “The pressure is not the same at both clubs, but small things like winning one game, then another, can change everything. Everton’s players deserve credit, and so does their coach.”
Amorim believes that his United side must focus on getting a single win to build confidence. “When you win, doubts disappear from the players’ minds,” he said.
The Portuguese coach has not shied away from criticizing his team’s performances and admitted feeling anger and frustration over recent results. He dismissed the idea that United are rigidly sticking to a 3-4-3 formation, explaining that his philosophy is based on principles rather than the number of defenders on the pitch.
“Four wins in 14 games is frustrating, no matter the club,” he said. “We have worked with this system for years, and I don’t see it as a strict back three or five. It’s about principles, and we can adapt. At Casa Pia, I only changed the system when I truly believed it was necessary. I stick to what I believe in.”
Despite their poor form, United will be boosted by the returns of Leny Yoro, Christian Eriksen, and Manuel Ugarte for the match at Goodison Park. However, they are still without Amad Diallo, who remains sidelined for the long term, while Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer also miss out. Additionally, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martínez, and Luke Shaw are still recovering from injuries.
With pressure mounting, Amorim knows that a positive result against Everton could change the mood around the club. However, given the form of Moyes’ team, it will not be an easy task.