Micah Richards identifies ‘massive disconnect’ at Man United – and a problem with Bruno Fernandes – that Ruben Amorim must fix

Micah Richards believes Manchester United have the talent to thrive under Ruben Amorim but that he must rectify multiple serious defects to turn around the tank.

The pundit thinks United have failed to fix the gaps between the defence, midfield, and attack which plagued them last season – and has offered a blueprint for getting the most out of Bruno Fernandes.

United were left cursing their wastefulness after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday and they have a lot to work on with Amorim, who arrives on November 11 as Erik ten Hag‘s successor. 

Mail Sport’s Oliver Holt claimed that United’s team have ‘neither identity nor soul’ after watching the draw at Old Trafford. Roy Keane thought they were ‘boring’ and ‘average’. 

And Micah Richards diagnosed their issues on the The Rest Is Football. ‘There’s such a disconnect between the midfield and (Rasmus) Hojlund up front. It is so plain to see,’ he said. 

He sees a ‘massive disconnect’ between Rasmus Hojlund up front, the midfield, and the back

Bruno Fernandes must drop deeper and get more involved in build-up play, says Richards 

Ruben Amorim will arrive on November 11 with a ‘big job’ to turn around a flailing giant 

‘They drop really deep, Hojlund stays up and wants to be the target man. He does well trying to hold up the ball and there’s nobody around him. The only option they have is to play wide to Rashford or Garnacho then just gamble. There’s rarely any build-up play.

‘Fernandes starts too far forward and he can’t influence a game with the ability he has. He should start a bit further back, get involved in the play, and then look to get in the box.

‘There’s a massive disconnect between the backline and the midfield and the midfield and Hojlund up front.’

Ruud van Nistelrooy has taken interim charge after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday last week. 

His first test was Leicester City in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, and United passed that with flying colours in a 5-2 win.

And despite a draw with Chelsea being commendable, they sit 13th in the Premier League, 21st in the Europa League, and have only won twice in their last 10 games in all competitions.  

Richards added: ‘I thought with Van Nistelrooy taking charge we’d see a little better in the league. I know they had a good result in the League Cup but I think the new manager has got a massive job. 

‘They have the talent, I do believe it. You look at the signings, even going back a while – (Paul) Pogba in for a big fee, everyone in Europe wanted him. (Harry) Maguire, City wanted him at the time. (Joshua) Zirkzee had a good reputation for where he played in Italy, Hojlund the same. Bruno Fernandes who has delivered. 

Richards thinks Man United’s signings have been fine but that they have had no system in mind

He lauded Andre Onana’s passing ability but says United’s defenders ‘don’t know how to receive the ball’

Ruud van Nistelrooy has won one and drawn one of his two games as caretaker manager 

‘They are getting the right players in. The problem is the system. They’re buying players just for their ability, not a system. 

‘The new manager Amorim likes to play three at the back and I just wonder whether theat will help them dominate in midfield areas where they can dominate the ball a little bit more.

‘What the players have shown in the last couple of years, you’d say they’re not good enough for where Man United would want to be. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case, I just don’t think they’ve had a system that suits the players well enough.’

‘It’s almost like (Marcus) Rashford wants to be a striker one week, then he wants to be a winger. Are you playing Fernandes a bit deeper or as a number 10? (Lisandro) Martinez was branded too short to be a centre-half, he played a couple of games at left-back. (Diogo) Dalot is sort of a utility player. (Andre) Onana wants to play out. he was outstanding at Inter Milan and he wants to play out, wants to play football, but there were times in the game today (against Chelsea) where he wants to play, but the defenders don’t want the ball or don’t know how to receive the ball.

‘The manager has got a big job but I believe the players can show more than what they are at this moment. I still think they need to get some new addiitons if they’re going to kick on to the next level.’