A clear divide has emerged in Manchester United’s dressing room as the club’s disastrous form under Ruben Amorim shows no signs of improving.
United suffered a heavy defeat of 3-0 against their rivals Manchester City on Sunday, placing them 14th in the Premier League.
Amorim’s team has managed to secure only four points from their first four matches this season and has already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup, following a loss to League Two team Grimsby Town in a surprising second-round defeat.
The former Sporting manager, Amorim, holds the record for the lowest win percentage of any permanent United manager since World War II, standing at 36.17 percent, having achieved merely eight victories from 31 Premier League matches since taking over from Erik ten Hag in November.
In comparison, Ten Hag had a win percentage of 54.7 percent during his tenure at United.
The club is currently experiencing its worst start to a season since the 1992/93 campaign, yet there are no intentions to dismiss Amorim, who is contracted until 2027, with the MEN indicating that the Portuguese coach still has the backing of the United management.
However, this situation may evolve in the upcoming weeks, as United is set to compete against Chelsea, Brentford, and the in-form Sunderland, followed by a challenging match against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Times has reported that, despite the ongoing lack of favorable outcomes at Old Trafford, Amorim is not encountering an ‘overwhelming revolt’ from his squad.
Nevertheless, it has been suggested that a distinct division is starting to form within the United dressing room.
“Some players are annoyed at not playing, and are disaffected by certain elements of Amorim’s regime — including his refusal to change the system — but there is also significant support for the head coach,” read the report.
Amorim has refused to deviate from his preferred 3-4-2-1 system and has admitted the club would have to sack him before he changed his tactics.
“I’m not going to change,” he said. “When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.”
Amorim admitted last week that “sometimes I want to quit”, raising speculation over his long-term future at Old Trafford.
However, sources close to the head coach have denied that he has started negotiating his exit from his post.
It comes after Benfica presidential candidate Joao Noronha Lopes was spotted at the Etihad on Sunday, fuelling speculation Amorim could be set for a return to Portuguese football.
Lopes was joined by former teammate and close friend Nuno Gomes, who is in line to become vice-president if the former is appointed club president.
Speaking to Portuguese media at the weekend, Lopes said: “Ruben Amorim is the coach of Manchester United so I can’t answer the questions.
“One thing I know, Ruben Amorim will be the coach of Benfica one day.
“Joao has already shown in recent years that he is capable of changing Benfica, to make it greater and different from what it has been in recent years.”
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