Former Manchester United defender praises Ruben Amorim for ‘doing the right thing’ against Bournemouth

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has praised Ruben Amorim for ‘doing the right thing’ during Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.  

United were leading 2-1 at half-time after goals from Amad Diallo and Casemiro, but the momentum shifted when Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier scored after the break.

Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha scored to put the hosts on the brink of victory before Eli Junior Kroupi made it 4-4 to salvage a draw for the Cherries. Neville praised both teams. 

“It was a stunning watch – more for a neutral maybe, but even for me,” he said on The Gary Neville podcast.

“I was really critical after the Everton and West Ham games because of just the nature of the performance – I thought it was really bland.

“The Everton one, where he kept three at the back and against one – they were down to ten men.

“There was no urgency – they weren’t throwing the kitchen sink at it. It was the same against West Ham – they let large parts of the game drift.

“It was the complete and utter opposite tonight – I can live with that all day long in terms of the performance and the standard because they played with real intent.

“Played the ball forwards, always played at full pace. When United went 3-2 down, Ruben Amorim went to 4-4-2 and did the right thing.

“Forget the system, he did the right thing, and he got the right players on the pitch and looked a massive threat.”

United came into Monday’s fixture on the back of an excellent 4-1 triumph at Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

The Red Devils were without defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire due to injury issues. 

Amorim started Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Luke Shaw in a back three, but they endured a difficult game.  

Yoro struggled defensively and was rightly substituted. Heaven should have done more in preventing the goals from Evanilson and Kroupi. 

Shaw lost possession in the build-up to the first Bournemouth goal and moved back to left-back in a back four during the second half. 

The three players will look to produce a better display when United visit Aston Villa this weekend.