Alex Iwobi’s ‘damning’ statement has sparked outrage among those concerned about Ruben Amorim’s tactics following Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. The former Arsenal winger didn’t hold back, revealing how the Cottagers were able to tie their visitors up and quickly expose their opponents’ midfield and defensive plans.
Although there was little activity inside the box, there were some key moments in the Premier League’s primetime Sunday slot. In the first half, Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty, while Leny Yoro’s claimed foul in the buildup to Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal sparked outrage. What appeared to be United’s crucial moment was undone when replacement Emile Smith Rowe scored with his first touch, converting an Iwobi cross from close range. Watch the equaliser below.
The setback places United among eight teams still without a win after two games of the current Premier League season, which is far from the start they had hoped for after their renovation. Despite spending £200 million on new attackers this summer, Amorim’s team has yet to score from open play with one of their own in three hours of game. Worse, their midfield and defence suddenly look like an open book with the 3-4-2-1 style they’ve set up – easy to read and even easier to punish.
Alex Iwobi explains how Fulham were able to punish United.
At the turn of the year, when everything was going wrong at Old Trafford, the consensus among United fans was simple: Amorim only needed to make it until July. Then, with new signings and a clean slate, he could finally begin his rescue mission. However, just two games into the 2025/26 season, it appears that other managers have cracked the code on how to play against him.
After the game, Iwobi was questioned how he was able to cut through United’s midfield so easily and take Fulham back into the game after falling behind. His remark was both frank and illuminating (see the interview below):
“Pushing on high allows me to get inside that pocket. We worked on it in practice, and we were able to put it into action during a match. We knew we’d be able to get behind their two midfielders, and the three center backs wouldn’t want to leap, so we took advantage of that today.”
It looks that three sparkling new strikers will not be enough to help United get back on track in their chase of glory days under their new manager, with apparent flaws all across the pitch causing lots of online discontent.
A user on X said it well: “Any manager that gets called out this way needs to take a serious look at themselves – and so should their bosses.” Another person added:
“I just wanted to let you know that if he doesn’t adjust, he’s done. If opposing players are already bragging to the public about how they practiced and effectively countered your techniques in the Premier League, if you stick to them, you are finished.”
Another said, “This is embarrassing, man,” and a fourth added, “Okay, this is getting tiresome. What do you mean, Smith Rowe and Iwobi know how we’ll play? This is simply a technical issue. “Do something, Amorim, before I lose it.”
A fifth said, “The opponents know just how to navigate the Amorim’s system. He is too adamant to admit that it will not work in the Premier League. No team in the Premier League succeeds with a 3-4-2-1 formation, and Amorim will not either.
Amorim now has a Premier League win rate of just 24.1% (seven victories in 29 games), matching Neil Warnock’s record of 27 wins from 112 games, which included two relegations. Still, with a home game against newly promoted Burnley coming up, he may have a brief opportunity to recover his breath and steady the ship.
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