Credit: Manh Tung - Breaking Media / Imago

Alex Oakhill

Sun 9 November 2025 15:32, UK

Take a glance at Manchester United’s recent upturn in form and you would be convinced that Ruben Amorim has finally turned a corner at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils stretched their Premier League unbeaten run to five games against Tottenham with Matthijs de Ligt’s 96th-minute equaliser salvaging a 2-2 draw in north London.

It’s their longest streak without defeat since Amorim took charge back in November 2024, a modest milestone that, on paper at least, hints at progress.

However, wins against Sunderland, Brighton, and most impressively Liverpool, as well as stalemates with Nottingham Forest and Spurs, haven’t convinced the Portuguese boss that United’s deeper problems are anywhere near solved.

Ruben Amorim: ‘We have a lot of problems’

Some may have expected a sense of jubilation as Man United snatched a point from the jaws of defeat in the capital, but Amorim was quick to extinguish any premature celebrations during his post-match press conference.

The Portuguese boss warned that the Red Devils still have issues that need addressing despite the recent positive run of results.

He said: “We have a lot of problems. We are just in the beginning. I know that sometimes the results show to people that we are improving, but we have a lot to do.

“The three points were there (against Tottenham), the space was there, and I think we felt too comfortable during the game. We need to do better because the game was there to take.”

Ruben Amorim backed up by the numbers

Amorim is right to be concerned, as Man United have been lucky to come away with anything in their last two outings.

A week before De Ligt headed home to steal a point for the Red Devils at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Amad Diallo rescued a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest with a late volley, and both games saw United under pressure for long spells.

Despite growing into one of the Premier League’s most exciting teams going forward, Amorim’s side are still leaky at the back, evidenced by the fact that they have already conceded 18 goals this term, which is one of the worst records in the top-flight.

Specifically, the Red Devils have struggled to prevent crosses from open play. While their recent switch to a more direct style has resulted in more goalscoring opportunities, it often leaves them deeper defensively, exposing their attack-minded wing-backs.

The issue was highlighted against Tottenham, with Mathys Tel’s equaliser coming from a left-wing cross after Diallo had been left isolated up against Destiny Udogie.

Diallo failed to close down Udogie with enough speed to block the cross, allowing the full-back to find Tel in the box, who was able to turn and finish into the top corner past Senne Lammens.

Man United are over-reliant on Casemiro

Another pressing concern for Man United is their seeming reliance on the recently reformed Casemiro, with their defensive structure falling to pieces whenever he is absent. The Brazilian was written off by many last season, with his age, 33, being cited as the primary reason for his decline.

However, this term Casemiro has been superb for Amorim, and his impact on the team is evidenced by the stark difference between Man United’s numbers with and without their defensive midfielder.

Incredibly, Man United are over four times more likely to concede a goal when Casemiro is off the pitch than when he is on it, with the former Real Madrid man’s presence also improving the number of goals the Red Devils score themselves.

The impact that Casemiro makes defensively cannot be understated. The 33-year-old is key for Amorim in terms of breaking up opposition attacks, using his vast experience to provide a solid baseline in midfield for United to work from.

The Brazilian also has a positive influence going forward for the Old Trafford outfit, contributing to their more direct style of play in recent weeks with his impressive range of passing. He has also popped up with three goals for Amorim’s side already this term, often proving to be a real threat from set pieces.

Casemiro’s statistics (2025-26 Premier League)

• 5.86 long passes completed per 90
• 5.72 recoveries per 90
• 3.22 tackles per 90
• 3 goals
• 2.2 aerials won per 90

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Casemiro’s long-term future at Man United is in doubt. Currently, the midfielder is the club’s highest earner on £350,000 per week (Capology), and with the hierarchy at Old Trafford eager to reduce the overall wage bill, he is the first one on the chopping block.

If the Red Devils are to offload Casemiro in the summer though, they will need to make sure they have a replacement ready to slot straight into the starting XI in order to limit the damage of the Brazilian’s departure.

Man United are improving, but slowly

While there are still major negatives surrounding Man United, it is important to remember that they recorded their worst-ever Premier League finish of 15th last season.

When you look at the bigger picture, there is no doubt that the Red Devils are improving under Amorim, even if progress is slower than it might seem at first glance.

Upcoming fixtures against Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, and Wolves will provide the perfect barometer to judge just how far United have come in recent times, and a couple of poor results would be a brutal reality check.

But with several other top Premier League sides struggling for consistency themselves, there is no reason why Amorim’s side can’t continue to improve and be in with a realistic chance of a Champions League place come the end of the season.