Amorim admits Gary Neville's scathing comment on Man Utd team was 'fair'

Ruben Amorim has conceded that Gary Neville’s scathing assessment of Manchester United’s performance in Sunday’s goalless Manchester derby was “fair,” after the pundit branded his side “robotic” and lacking spark.

The 0-0 draw at Old Trafford—United’s fifth consecutive game without a win—left them 13th in the Premier League, eight points above the drop zone, and Amorim facing mounting scrutiny just five months into his tenure.

Neville, speaking on Sky Sports’ post-match coverage, didn’t hold back, slamming United’s display as “absolutely flat” and “like watching robots” against a Manchester City side that, despite their own inconsistencies, dominated possession with 63%.

“There’s no flair, no risk,” Neville said. “Amorim’s got them organized, sure, but where’s the United DNA? It’s like they’re programmed to defend and nothing else.”

The ex-United captain pointed to just three shots on target and a lack of creativity, even with Bruno Fernandes dropping deep and Alejandro Garnacho on the flanks.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Lyon, Amorim acknowledged Neville’s remarks carried weight.

“Gary’s a legend here—he knows this club better than most,” the Portuguese coach said. “I don’t disagree it was fair criticism. We were solid, we didn’t lose, but we didn’t play with the freedom I want. It’s a process, and we’re not there yet. I take responsibility for that.”

The derby saw United lean heavily on a disciplined 3-4-2-1 setup, with Luke Shaw’s return bolstering the backline alongside Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui.

Andre Onana’s key save from Phil Foden earned a point, but the attack—featuring Rasmus Højlund and Fernandes—fired blanks, extending United’s goal drought to over 200 minutes.

Amorim admitted: “We need to take more risks, especially at home. The fans deserve that, and Gary’s right to call it out.”

Neville’s “robotic” jab echoes broader fan frustration, with United’s 37 league goals in 31 games dwarfed by City’s 52. On X, supporters debated the point: @MUFC_Simon

wrote, “Neville’s spot on—Amorim’s turned us into a mid-block machine with no soul,” while @RedArmy99

countered, “Give him time—Pep lost 4-0 here once too.” Sky Sports stats show United’s expected goals (xG) of 0.8 vs. City’s 1.4 underlined their bluntness.

Amorim, however, defended his approach while hinting at change. “I came to build something, not to play like City overnight,” he said.

“We’re safe defensively now—conceding less than before—but the next step is attack. Gary’s critique helps us grow.” With Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly pledging £100m for summer transfers, Amorim could target flair players like Porto’s Alan Varela or Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres to inject that missing dynamism.

For now, United’s focus shifts to Lyon, where a win could ease pressure before the league resumes.

Neville, reflecting on Sky’s Monday Night Football, softened his tone slightly: “Amorim’s honest, I respect that. But United fans won’t wait forever—this robotic stuff has to evolve.” The question remains: can Amorim find the balance Neville demands?