A “worried” Gary Neville has warned Manchester United could be “in trouble” if they do not soon start picking up wins after their comprehensive defeat against Manchester City.
Sunday afternoon’s 3-0 defeat to their bitter rivals condemned Ruben Amorim’s side to their second league defeat of the campaign, having won just once all season.
The defeat extends the Portuguese’s unwanted record of just eight wins in 31 Premier League games for United.
Patience had been awarded to the former Sporting Lisbon boss throughout last season’s dire campaign, with a lack of a proper pre-season or transfer window behind him.
Manchester United have won just one game so far this season | REUTERSHowever, Neville, who made 600 appearances for the Red Devils, has warned this patience could now wear thin very quickly, citing next week's clash against Chelsea as crucial.
“Man Utd are 14th, we're only four games in,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“But we can't be getting into October where Man Utd are 14th or 15th in the league, otherwise the manager will be in trouble. They have to start winning quickly.
“Next week, if they lose [against Chelsea], they would go to 15th or 16th. It's five games in and before you know it, you're in October and they're in the bottom half of the table. And that's where they can't be, having spent £200million and giving him a pre-season.
A 'worried' Gary Neville has warned Manchester United could be 'in trouble' if they do not start picking up wins soon after their comprehensive defeat against Manchester City
|SKY SPORTS
“There's got to be a turnaround pretty quickly, and the manager's idea has got to land very quickly with the players.
“I’m worried about the manager, I'm worried about what's going to happen in the next few weeks.
“I don't think it's a time for panic, but I've seen this before, we've seen this film.”
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Under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United have won just eight Premier League games
|REUTERS
Amid Neville voicing his concerns, the United boss maintained his confidence and persistence in the tactics that see him record just a 26 per cent win rate - the third worst among managers to take charge of at least 20 games in the club’s history, and the worst since World War Two.
Under Amorim, the Red Devils have won just four of 26 Premier League games against non-promoted teams. They are now bottom of the of the 17 teams that have remained in the league since he took the job. Spurs overtook them this weekend on goal difference after their 3-0 victory against West Ham.
The statistics tell a bleak and weary tale, but Amorim remains defiant in switching his system.
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“I accept, it is not a record you should have at Manchester United," the Portuguese manager stated to Sky Sports after the game. "I understand the frustration and I understand the decisions that come with that. I take the critics. That's it."
"My message to fans: I will do everything. Always thinking about what is best for the club. Until I'm here, I'll do my best. The rest is not my decision.
"I'm suffering more [than the fans].
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"He's not at his best... they need to try and get the best out of him!"@Gnev2 suggests that Ruben Amorim's current system may not be getting the best out of skipper Bruno Fernandes... 🤔 pic.twitter.com/GvWWMpjLhf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 14, 2025
"I am not going to change my philosophy. I play my way and I am going to play my way," the manager declared defiantly after the derby defeat.”
Former United midfielder Roy Keane was not convinced by the 40-year-old’s comments, nor by his reign at the club so far.
“This United team lack that real quality. They struggle defensively. There are obviously issues,” Keane added on Sky Sports.
Roy Keane warned that Manchester United 'lack quality'
| SKY SPORTS“You talk about the system, but the manager is sticking to his guns; he is not budging.
“You look at the results and the points per game, goals for and against. It is not good reading. It does concern me.
“As soon as the game starts, you are worried, but you get that feeling against any decent team. They have scored four goals and two of them were penalties. So they are not a free-scoring team. It is almost the same problems as last year.
“We were told the manager needed a pre-season, his own players and they have spent over £200m, so we keep making excuses. When are we going to see signs?
“You see [Arne] Slot going into Liverpool, they end up winning the league, and Frank to Spurs, are they improving? Yeah.”