Ruben Amorim appeared to have effectively resigned from his position as head coach of Manchester United following his startling remarks after the defeat to West Ham United, as reported by Richard Keys.
The Portuguese manager expressed his unfiltered thoughts after the 2-0 loss at Old Trafford, marking United’s 17th defeat in the Premier League this season, revealing some uncomfortable truths.
Amorim expressed uncertainty about whether qualifying for the Champions League would benefit his players, considering their struggles in domestic matches.
The 40-year-old subtly conveyed a message to the board, emphasizing the need for United to be ‘strong’ and ‘brave’ in the upcoming summer, as they risk losing their identity as a prominent club.
He further acknowledged that the club might be better served by seeking a different coach if he is unable to alter the prevailing culture of defeat in the next season.
Keys believes that Amorim’s candid press conference reinforces his conviction that the coach is looking to leave Old Trafford.
“Well, now what? Because this weekend, he all but resigned. It’s hard to interpret his post-match comments after the West Ham defeat any other way.”
The broadcaster continued, aiming fire at United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe: “Here’s the bottom line. United are hopeless. Embarrassing. They’re still going backwards.
“The Jim Reaper has ripped the heart out of the club, inflicting damage and hurt from top to bottom, whilst making one bad decision after another, and it’s coming back to bite him and the brains trust.
Amorim realised he’d walked into a mess pretty quickly after arriving at OT. He knows it’s not going to get better any time soon.
“He’s not working for football people. He’s working for accountants and stats men, who don’t understand what he wants or needs. I’m not convinced some even care.
If I’m right – and Amorim wants out, either now or a couple of months into next season – how can United commit to him? How can they gamble spending money on players he might want?”
Last summer, United invested approximately £200 million to support Erik ten Hag, despite his precarious position. He was dismissed a few months later, and Sir Jim later acknowledged that this decision was erroneous.
The 72-year-old and INEOS now face a similar dilemma regarding Amorim, whose reputation has significantly declined since taking over the role in M16. He is anticipated to receive financial support after discovering a disorganized squad that struggles to adapt to his 3-4-3 formation midway through the season.
However, United’s ongoing poor performance on the field as they approach the next season presents a challenge that the club cannot afford.
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