Michael Carrick's impressive start partly became a criticism for the person who was once considered a long-term successor at Man United.
What was noteworthy in the previous two weeks was that interim coach Darren Fletcher switched to a 4-defender formation. He helped Benjamin Sesko score 3 goals in 2 matches, although Fletcher himself still could not bring victory. Carrick did.
With a 4-man defense, fast-paced wingers, Bruno Fernandes is positioned at number 10, and Kobbie Mainoo pairs up in midfield, Carrick's choices show clear decisiveness. The way he deploys the match plan also reflects the solid training foundation formed from Man United, the England national team to Middlesbrough.
The simplest explanation is probably that Carrick did almost everything Amorim had ever applied. Man United entered the game quickly and kept a clean sheet - things that rarely appeared under his predecessor.
In theory, those 11 players can completely be put into Amorim's favorite 3-4-3 formation. But among the 10 starters besides the goalkeeper, only Casemiro maintains his role compared to this season. Mainoo has never been a starter in the Premier League under Amorim this season, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire often play in a 3-man defense, while Man United completely does not use full-fledged full-backs or wingers.
The more you look back, the harder it is to avoid the feeling that Man United has suppressed themselves by dogmatic choices.
Mainoo is an incomplete midfielder, not a pure defensive midfielder, but clearly he is much better than Amorim's assessment. If there were no upper-level fluctuations, Mainoo might even have had to leave on loan this month.
Amorim sees Mainoo as a backup option for Bruno Fernandes in the number 8 position, while the Portuguese midfielder is the most creative player in the league. Mbeumo's assist for the goal shows that placing the Man United captain in the number 10 position is a reasonable choice.
There is a temptation to say that the performance in the recent derby was reflexive after Amorim's departure. The "Red Devils" looked like they were liberated. The connection between the players and the audience was restored, not because fans turned their backs on Amorim, but because they felt lighter.
One important thing Michael Carrick told us is to take advantage of the energy of fans" - Lisandro Martinez shared.
It is no coincidence that Man United often plays well in the interim periods led by former players. The team seems to be relieved of pressure when the person considered a long-term option leaves.
Carrick inspired a clear improvement performance in the derby. However, if Man United is entering the process of "eliminating Amorim", the accompanying consequence will not be simple. He took over a squad that was not suitable for the 3-4-3 formation and restructured it. Now, when switching to 4-2-3-1, the squad has revealed imbalance.
Man United currently has 3 players playing best in the number 10 position - Fernandes, Cunha and Mason Mount - but only three true central midfielders are Casemiro, Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte. Strengthening the midfield is already in the summer plan, and now that need is becoming even more urgent.
After Amorim eliminated Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, Man United almost no longer has a true left winger. If you include Patrick Dorgu, who played prominently in the derby, the team also only has one purely left-back. Those personnel gaps could become a serious problem at the end of the season.
In the opposite direction, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo are competing for the same role, although they are clearly the two best attacking players in the team. Amorim often ranks them as right winger and number 10, while Carrick uses them more true to their nature, in the positions of winger and striker.
