Graeme Souness has once again spoken his mind about Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, and it’s not exactly glowing.
The former Liverpool midfielder labelled the Red Devils as “average” and suggested that breaking into the Champions League spots could be out of reach this season.
Another Missed Opportunity for the Red Devils
United’s latest Premier League outing was a rollercoaster.
Against Bournemouth on Monday, the team threw away the lead three times in an eight-goal thriller at Old Trafford.
The dramatic 4-4 draw meant United remained sixth in the table, still chasing fourth-place Chelsea and just behind Crystal Palace.
Souness didn’t hold back when discussing the team’s performance.
“Manchester United, biggest club in our football, maybe the second, third biggest club in world football.
But right now, they’re going through a difficult period,” he told Sky Bet.
Consistency Remains a Major Issue
Despite big summer signings—Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko for a combined £214 million—Souness believes the team’s unpredictability is their biggest obstacle.
“What Ruben Amorim’s got with that group of players is he doesn’t know what he’s going to get from them,” Souness said.
“You’re sitting there with a wing and a prayer—what are we going to get today?”
According to Souness, this inconsistency isn’t just frustrating; it’s detrimental to United’s ambitions.
“They need to get back into the Champions League for the obvious reasons—to generate more finance, to buy even better players, and to be attractive to the genuine big players out there.”
Midfield Struggles and the Bruno Dilemma
Souness also highlighted the ongoing struggles in United’s midfield.
While Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte were brought in to strengthen the engine room, he described them as “ordinary” compared to the player United sold in Scott McTominay, now thriving at Napoli.
“Bruno Fernandes is an outstanding creator.
He’s their go-to man, easily their most talented player.
But he has shortcomings,” Souness noted, criticising the Portuguese star’s leadership style while praising his all-around contribution.
Kobbie Mainoo and the Young Midfielder Debate
The spotlight also fell on young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who has struggled for game time under Amorim.
Souness disagreed with critics like Paul Scholes, who have claimed the 20-year-old is being mishandled. “Mainoo is a complete off-the-cuff player.
Better on the ball than some, but he doesn’t understand the central midfield role when you’re out of possession,” Souness said, suggesting coaching and positional awareness are the key issues.
Souness contrasted Mainoo with Adam Wharton, a more tactically aware player, emphasising that Mainoo’s raw talent might not be enough to compensate for positional lapses.
United’s Road Ahead
With inconsistency still plaguing the Red Devils and key players struggling to hit their peak form, Souness’ warning is clear: United face an uphill battle if they hope to reclaim a spot in the Champions League.
Summer investments have improved their attacking potential, but without stability and sharper midfield balance, reaching the top four could remain a distant dream.
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