Defiant Amorim stands firm on Man Utd system ahead of Sunderland clash

MANCHESTER, England :Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim defended his tactical approach on Friday, insisting his much-criticised 3-4-2-1 system is not to blame for the team's struggles as he prepares for his 50th game in charge against promoted Sunderland.

The Portuguese faces mounting pressure after United slumped to 14th in the Premier League with two wins from six games after last weekend's 3-1 loss at Brentford prompted club great Wayne Rooney to say he had no faith in Amorim turning things around.

With United already out of the League Cup and having failed to qualify for Europe following last season's 15th-place finish, the pressure is on Amorim to deliver in the league where they are already eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

'LAST SEASON DOESN'T MATTER'

"You cannot run away from the results and then your baggage from last season. But last season for me doesn't matter. We've had six games this season and we've lost three. We have to look to the games that we lost," Amorim told reporters.

"I am not saying this team would play better in another system or not, that is not my point. My point is that if I look back at the games we lost, the most important thing when I watch the game is not that we lost because of the system.

"That is my opinion. People have different opinions, that s OK."

While United's squad are still coming to terms with Amorim's philosophy, the manager admitted his side's performance at Brentford was 'disjointed' but argued that inconsistency rather than tactics was the root problem.

"You cannot say one thing that doesn't work when it works on one weekend and on the other weekend it doesn't work. When something doesn't work, it doesn't work every day," he added.

"When it works one day and the other day