Danny Murphy aims criticism at Ruben Amorim after ‘abject’ Man Utd performance

Ruben Amorim is using the wrong tactics for the players he has, believes former Liverpool star Danny Murphy, after an ‘abject’ Manchester United performance in defeat to Newcastle.

The Red Devils’ nightmare season continued at St James’ Park on Sunday as they were beaten 4-1 by Newcastle, slipping to 14th in the Premier League table.

It was a decent first half display from Amorim’s side, but they fell away after the break as the Magpies soared to victory.

The Manchester United boss pointed out mistakes from his players in the game, with the likes of Noussair Mazraoui and Altay Bayindir producing costly errors, but Murphy feels the manager is to blame as well.

‘There are individual errors but it’s certainly not just that. I still think tactically they’re wrong, with the players they’ve got,’ Murphy said on Match of the Day 2.

‘Their options up front are really limited and that’s down to the manager, the tactical plan and the motivation of the players and the players he’s picking.’

However, Murphy did accept that United’s focus will have been on facing Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, saying: ‘There is today, I couldn’t say a get out of jail card with the midweek coming up, because he did have a few on the bench who might normally start.

‘They’ve got to prioritise midweek because they can’t do anything in the Premier League. But that is an abject performance from a Manchester United side, it really is poor.’

The former England midfielder did also aim some criticism at the players, who he feels are not capable of being adaptable and making decisions during games.

‘The high line from Newcastle. United have got to go long on occasion. Play some percentages. Turn them round and get some runners,’ said Murphy. ‘It’s poor game management, individually from players within the game.

‘It’s a big topic recently, are players too robotic? Are they listening to the manager too much? Make some decisions that influence the game positively.’

Speaking out after the 14th defeat of the Premier League campaign for the Red Devils, Amorim said: ‘We did a lot of mistakes and they were better than us, stronger than us.

‘Suffering the second goal in the beginning of the second half hurt us a lot and then we did mistakes during the game that helped Newcastle to win the game.’

He suggested that errors are down to the team, rather than individuals, adding: ‘It’s a team thing. We are doing a lot of mistakes in certain games that give confidence to the opponent, give goals, and then it’s hard to cope with everything.

‘We had the first chance, we didn’t score, [then] they have their chance, they score. Then they took control of the game. We scored to draw but then second half, we were suffering in the second play of the game, it’s hard for our team and we did a lot of mistakes.’

Having drawn the first leg in France 2-2, United now face a crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon on Thursday night.

The boss said: ‘We have to start tomorrow. We cannot change this game, this performance, this season.

‘We just need to think of the future, we have one competition that we can win a trophy and go to the Champions League next season.’