Explosive WhatsApp Leak Reveals Man Utd Executive's Scathing Attack on Ruben Amorim
Manchester United's recruitment director, Christopher Vivell, allegedly criticized Ruben Amorim's preferred 3-4-2-1 tactical setup in a private WhatsApp conversation among the club's senior management.
Amorim had previously declared that "not even the Pope" could persuade him to abandon a formation that had produced only 24 victories from 60 matches across all competitions, yet a strategic adjustment to a 4-2-3-1 system resulted in an outstanding 1–0 victory against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
The tactical modification was unexpected, as was Amorim's choice to revert to his three-defender formation for a 1–1 stalemate with relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers in their most recent outing.
According to the Daily Mail, supporter worries regarding Amorim's tactical approach have been echoed by certain figures in the Old Trafford hierarchy, particularly recruitment head Vivell.
Vivell allegedly expressed his reservations in a WhatsApp group discussion among United's executive team following a 1–1 tie away to Fulham in August, after which Cottagers manager Marco Silva and midfielder Alex Iwobi detailed how they "took advantage of" Amorim's tactical arrangement.
These observations were shared in United's WhatsApp conversation along with Vivell's caution that Amorim's formation was overly predictable and required immediate modification.
Amorim: We Can Win Any Game
All attention will focus on United's starting lineup on Sunday as Amorim chooses his squad to face high-flying Leeds United in the newest chapter of one of English football's most legendary rivalries.
"I understand that it represents a major derby, an incredible atmosphere," Amorim commented before the match. "A significant rivalry. However, every Premier League fixture is challenging for us, so this is just another contest.
"I recognize that it holds great importance for the supporters, but we must travel there and attempt to secure victory."
Optimism regarding that crucial win is clearly strong, with Amorim maintaining they possess the ability to halt Leeds' impressive run.
"They are full of confidence, but we have demonstrated we can triumph in any match under any circumstances, in every situation, so we will attempt to achieve that once more," Amorim stated.
"We understand that they have altered their system. They feature different players in attacking positions. In their previous match they rotated the two players who are typically the regular starters. Therefore, they possess quality players, an excellent manager, and a fantastic atmosphere. It will be a difficult encounter."