Published: 15:24, 10 October 2025 | Updated: 15:24, 10 October 2025

Michael Owen says it’s ‘embarrassing’ to blame Ruben Amorim’s back-three system for the problems at Manchester United.

Owen agrees with the United boss that pundits criticising Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation might have got into his players’ heads and made them question it.

Several former Red Devils stars, including Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney, have been critical of Amorim's stubbornness not to ditch the system, which has seen United win less than half of their Premier League games this season and crash out of the Carabao Cup to Grimsby Town in the second round on penalties.

But former United striker Owen insists the club’s problems run much deeper than the tactical changes made by the Portuguese head coach who is under pressure as he approaches his first anniversary in charge.

‘They have changed the manager numerous times since Fergie left,’ said Owen. ‘Then they blamed the players; spent billions on players and got some of the best players in the world, only for the club to be seen as a bit of a graveyard for...