Louis Saha Urges Amorim To Show Some Flexibility At Man Utd

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha says Ruben Amorim must be more flexible if the club are to succeed this season.

United recorded their first Premier League win of the campaign with a stoppage-time penalty against Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday.

But the performance did little to convince critics that they are close to challenging for the Premier League, 12 years after their last league triumph, with the Red Devils currently available at huge odds to win the title according to football betting sites.

Saha, speaking to Gambling.com ahead of the PlayOJO Manchester Masters on Friday, admitted it is "frustrating" watching his old side at the moment.

Amorim Trusts His Formation

Bruno Fernandes clinched a dramatic stoppage-time victory for United against Burnley from the spot, though the performance was far from convincing. 

United’s goalkeeping woes resurfaced when Altay Bayindir’s blunder gifted Jaidon Anthony a second equaliser for the visitors. 

Anthony then turned villain, tugging Amad’s shirt into the box. After a lengthy four-minute VAR review, referee Sam Barrott awarded the spot-kick. Fernandes, who had missed a penalty at Fulham the week before, remained composed to score. 

Amorim cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines for much of the match, and Saha suggests United should consider abandoning the rigid 5-3-2 formation he has stuck by since he arrived in November 2024. 

"That is something that we will maybe see soon,” he said. 

"Maybe it will change. I trust Amorim’s understanding about the players that he sees on the training pitch. Perhaps at the weekend he thinks that this formation is going to work fine. But as we know, it is a long process. 

"It does not mean that things get easy or logical. It is not the case. I know football. 

"I hope that the results are going to come. This is what he needs to deliver. He needs to show to the fans or former players or pundits that the formation will help the players.

"If it does not help the players, we will challenge him and say, listen, it's been nine months, we need more."

Frustrating To Watch

The win over Burnley halted a poor start to the 2025/26 season for Amorim and his side, it also improved their outside Premier League Odds ever so slightly. 

They had opened their campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal on the opening weekend, followed by a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Things got worse when one of their few realistic opportunities for silverware disappeared, as United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties in the second round by Grimsby, following a 2-2 draw.

Saha, who scored 42 goals in 124 games for the Red Devils, admits it has been frustrating viewing so far this campaign.

"It is frustrating, because they still make the same mistakes,” he revealed.

"They have done well in the transfer market. They have tried to get some of the players out that don't want to be there anymore. 

"It is not just the tactics and formation. It is more about the way the players and the staff approach those games.

"He is allowing the performance to drop and the opposition to gain confidence. I do not understand it and this is where I am very frustrated.

"You have this responsibility to actually challenge the opposition by putting them under pressure, and that is not the case. So maybe it is down to the players that cannot maintain it.

"But this is why we don't get the results, and we get punished against Grimsby. As a fan, I can understand why we should be asking for more."

Amorim Must Prove Himself

United do not play again for two weeks, but their next fixtures are against Manchester City and Chelsea, with Liverpool to follow soon after.

Despite its fortunate nature, the victory over Burnley at least ensures Amorim and his players enter the international break on the back of a win.

However, Saha believes the Portuguese coach – who has previously hinted he may consider leaving Old Trafford – still has to prove not only that his tactical beliefs are sound, but also that he is the right man for the job.

While you are here, check out our brilliant free to play casino games at our Games Hub!

"There is a need now for him to make us understand why he is so obsessed about the style of play that we have at the moment,” he said.

"If he gets the answers on the field, the players are responding better. Tactics or formations should bring an advantage to the players. 

"So the players feel better when they play. This is why you play with a certain formation. 

"It is not to actually force them to do something that at some point you will see that is maybe not working. 

"He has to prove to all of us that this formation is right for most of the players. This is what he needs to do. 

"We need results and we need consistency."