Gary Neville slams “bizarre” Ruben Amorim decision

Gary Neville took aim at Ruben Amorim’s ‘bizarre’ decision as Manchester United drew 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers, handing the visitors their third point of the season.

Manchester United stutters in front of the struggling Wolves

Manchester United’s turbulent 2025 ended with a poor 1-1 draw at home to Wolves, with manager Rob Edwards collecting a first point since taking charge.

Three weeks after a 4-1 win at Molineux, Amorim’s side struggled without the night’s top scorers Bruno Fernandes, Brian Mbeumo and Mason Mount.

The Red Devils were without eight senior players in total, but so were a beleaguered Wolves side, who bounced back from Joshua Zirkzee’s opener through the man who sent a deflection into the net.

Ladislav Krejci scored the equalizer for the visitors just before half-time and it proved enough to end an 11-game losing streak in the Premier League.

Wolves fans cheered their team enthusiastically as their 19th game in a miserable season brought a third point and the first positive result of Edwards’ reign.

As for United, Amorim’s side failed to build on their Boxing Day win over Newcastle and saw Patrick Dorgo’s 90th-minute goal ruled out for offside. No wonder the final whistle was greeted by boos.

It’s another step backwards for Amorim at Old Trafford, who will wonder where he will find consistency after another disappointing display. Whether he takes the draw against Wolves as a sign that his 3-4-2-1 system needs to be ditched remains to be seen. There is no denying that United have once again struggled with their manager’s squad.

Gary Neville criticizes Amorim’s “strange” decision

Like many at Old Trafford, Neville was calling on Manchester United to attack at Old Trafford, especially when Amorim changed his approach in the second half. But that attack was forced to adapt without Zirkzee in the second half after it faltered at the break.

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While it remains to be seen whether his substitution was forced, Neville was quick to brand it “strange” in commentary for Sky Sports as he watched another disappointing display.

The former Manchester United player said:He will point to injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations. But every team is in a similar situation. I’m not sure what happened with Zirkzee. “If he wasn’t injured, it would be a strange substitution.”

The striker was certainly in good enough form to keep his place at the break, especially considering Amorim had to turn on youngster Benedito Mantatu deep into the second half.

If Zirkzee’s replacement is not due to injury, more questions could arise about his future. The striker has been largely out of favor this season and that is unlikely to change when Brian Mbeumo returns to the team after the Africa Cup of Nations.

If interest arrives, he could follow many others before him to leave the club not long after initially completing the move.