Dyche scoffs at ‘clickbait’ Man United tactics story

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has downplayed reports suggesting he criticized Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim, calling recent headlines surrounding his remarks “clickbait” ahead of the two clubs’ Premier League meeting on Saturday at the City Ground.

Dyche, appointed Forest boss on Oct. 21, was responding to comments resurfacing from May, in which he appeared to claim he could have achieved better results at Manchester United by deploying a traditional 4-4-2 formation. The remarks gained renewed attention ahead of his first encounter with Amorim, whose United side are chasing a fourth straight league victory.

“I didn’t question him as a person. I’d never do that with managers,” Dyche said Thursday. “It’s unfortunate nowadays — whether you’re a pundit or a manager — that clickbait kills everything. It changed the whole story. I also said I wanted managers to be given time, because I’ve been in that situation myself. But of course, that part didn’t make the headlines.”

Amorim, who succeeded Erik ten Hag in the summer, brushed off Dyche’s earlier comments with humor during his own media briefing. “Maybe it’s true — if we play 4-4-2, we would win more games,” he said with a smile. “But I’ve always said my way of playing takes time. Sean Dyche is a smart manager; he knows what he’s doing. There’s a difference between analyzing a game and coaching a team.”

The exchange, largely lighthearted, reflects mutual professional respect between the two coaches. Dyche went on to praise Amorim for adapting his tactical approach since arriving in Manchester. “They’ve changed their style — fair play to him and his staff,” Dyche said. “There’s a time to stick with your beliefs and a time to be flexible, and so far, he’s shown he can be both.”

Amorim’s United currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, while Dyche’s Forest remain in the relegation zone with five points from nine matches. The former Burnley and Everton manager became Forest’s third appointment of the season following the departures of Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.

Saturday’s fixture offers Dyche a chance to secure his first win in charge and restore momentum for Forest, while Amorim continues his push to solidify United’s position in the top six as his project begins to take shape.