It is improbable, yet not impossible, that Manchester United would choose to dismiss Ruben Amorim should they face defeat in the Europa League final, particularly under the stringent leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The co-owner of the Red Devils has demonstrated a willingness to acknowledge his errors and make decisive changes if he disapproves of the team’s trajectory.
Since the dismissal of Erik ten Hag in November, the team’s performance has declined sharply, lacking the typical resurgence that often accompanies a new head coach. Amorim’s potential advantage lies in the general consensus that he deserves the opportunity to remove the underperforming players he inherited and to bring in higher-caliber replacements that align with his strategic vision.
Sir Jim has candidly recognized that his choice to maintain confidence in Ten Hag, despite a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season, was a misjudgment.
He appeared to have grasped this lesson shortly after the unexpected exit of sporting director Dan Ashworth, which occurred just five months into his tenure—equivalent to the duration of his gardening leave at Newcastle United. Sir Jim accepted the unavoidable negative press to avert a more significant problem in the future.
“I mean, at the end of the day, it was chemistry. Maybe a bit more than chemistry, but let’s just say chemistry and it didn’t work,” the 72-year-old told The Overlap in March.
“But again, I think slightly in our defence, we did recognise it as being something that would not work and, therefore, we decided we would make a change.
“What would have been far easier, because of the scrutiny that we knew we would get in the media, would have been to live with it, but I wasn’t prepared to live with it.
“That has to be part of our mentality at Manchester United. Even though we’re having to make unpopular decisions, if we think it’s the right thing, then we’re going to do it.”
Amorim has significantly surpassed the record-low standing established by Ten Hag, aided by his predecessor’s poor start to the season that resulted in his termination. United could potentially end up in 17th place, the lowest rank a Premier League team can achieve without facing relegation.
In contrast, the situation in the Europa League has been markedly different, with the M16 giants remaining the only unbeaten team among the 100 clubs participating in UEFA’s three major tournaments this season. Amorim has secured nine victories and two draws in these matches, leading United to an unexpected final.
Securing a third trophy and Champions League qualification at the last moment would undoubtedly delight the fans as they head into the summer. However, Sir Jim and United have incurred the consequences of investing approximately £200 million in Ten Hag last summer, a coach they did not fully support.
Will the INEOS leader risk further setbacks by initiating a summer spending spree for a three-at-the-back system that has yet to demonstrate success in the Premier League? Or will he find it intolerable to continue investing in a project that has begun so poorly, similar to his experience with Ashworth? While it seems unlikely, it is not entirely out of the question.
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