Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim finds himself under pressure after a derby defeat left his team just one point clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone
Ruben Amorim has been told he’s put his Manchester United players in an uncomfortable position with his comments after their derby defeat at Manchester City. The Portuguese coach indicated he has no plans to change his approach despite underwhelming results, saying the higher-ups will need to find a new manager if they want that kind of hard reset.
A 3-0 reverse at the Etihad Stadium left United with four points from four games and just one point clear of the relegation places. Across Amorim‘s entire reign, the total is 31 from 31 games, the lowest points-per-game return of any United boss in the Premier League era.
“When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man,” Amorim said after the City game. “We will talk about that every game that we lose. I don’t believe in that, in the system, or whatever.
“I believe in my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change. My message is that I am going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club.
“That was always the same message. It is not my decision, the rest (on whether United change manager). Until I am here, I will do my best. I really want to win games. I am suffering more than them.”
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The pressure is mounting on Amorim as United prepare for a trio of games against Chelsea, Brentford and Sunderland before the international break. Whether or not the results in those games will bring about Amorim’s dismissal, former Liverpool and Sunderland star Fabio Borini made his feelings clear about the language being used by the boss.
“It’s harsh on even the players, at times, because the players maybe don’t feel comfortable,” Borini said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. “Even the way he said, ‘I’m really happy today because of the effort of every player,’ that’s standard, that’s the bare minimum, you shouldn’t be happy for that.”
Co-host Sam Allardyce then raised the subject of Amorim’s conversations with his squad as well as his public words, asking: “Is that because he wants out?” Borini then replied: “Do you think he can ask the players [their thoughts] or not?
“Culturally, I’ve seen that happen in Italy, the manager – when he’s in a difficult position – he has his staff, he wants to also hear the dressing room’s thoughts, which sometimes can be productive or counterproductive because [it depends] how well you take the dressing room opinion.
“Because sometimes you ask for an opinion and then it kind of backfires on you, and you say, ‘Oh, I didn’t like what they actually think.’ Sometimes that’s also the case [as a player], are you saying the things that you want the manager to hear or are you saying the things you’re actually thinking.
“Because there’s two different ways and I think both [happen] in my experience. The priority needs to be Manchester United… When [the captain] goes and knocks on the door, the priority is only Manchester United and not players or manager. It’s difficult.”
Reference has also been made to the lack of European football this season giving Amorim nowhere to hide. Last season, a run to the Europa League final excused some domestic sins, but this time around it’s all about what happens in the league – starting on Saturday against Chelsea.
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