Manchester United owner gives Amorim a three-year time to prove his mettle!
Ruben Amorim must have been relieved by Manchester United’s minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s latest statement. The Portuguese coach has been under huge mental pressure after Manchester United’s struggles with a poor start in the EPL this season. Even after constant criticism from the media as well as the fans’ demands to sack him from the coach’s post, Amorim’s job was at stake at one point in the season. The coach will be finishing his first anniversary with Manchester United on 1st November. Significantly Ratcliffe, while speaking to media has clearly stated that Amorim will be given a period of three years to show his ability and performance, rejecting any notion of “knee-jerk” reactions. Amorim’s tenure has been challenging, with the team failing to secure back-to-back Premier League victories and finishing 15th last season – their worst top-flight performance since 1974. This season has also seen an early exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two side Grimsby. Despite calls for change, Ratcliffe, speaking on The Business podcast, produced by the Times and Sunday Tomes, described the 40-year-old as a “good guy” who needs time. “He has not had the best of seasons. Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That’s where I would be,” Ratcliffe stated. He criticised media pressure for instant success, adding: “The press, sometimes I don’t understand. They want overnight success. “They think it’s a light switch. You know, you flick a switch and it’s all going to be roses tomorrow. “You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.” Ratcliffe has owned just under 30 percent of United through his chemicals company Ineos since February 2024, taking over control of football operations at the club. That still left the Glazer family, who have been the subject of numerous fan protests over their handling of the club since taking over in 2005, in overall charge. Asked what would happen if the Glazers told him to sack Amorim, Ratcliffe said: “It’s not going to happen.”
Amorim out? Southgate may receive offers to take over
Ruben Amorim admits he doesn’t know if he will remain as manager of Manchester United – but says he has no plans to quit. The under-fire Red Devils boss hinted he was ready to chuck in the towel following Wednesday’s humiliating defeat against Grimsby Town Carabao Cup. He will hold showdown talks with the hierarchy during the international break next week. Significantly, former England manager Gareth Southgate is one of the favorites to join as the manager if he is removed finally. Asked if he will be in charge after today’s crunch home clash with Burnley, Amorim said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen, that is my idea. After the Burnley clash at Old Trafford, Amorim’s United face a Manchester derby with City at the Etihad on September 14 followed by Chelsea. At his Carrington press conference yesterday, he conceded there were times he thought about quitting. Amorim was asked to explain comments he made after his flops crashed out to minnows Grimsby in midweek. He stated his players had ‘spoken loudly’ about what they wanted to happen. Amorim, whose side are winless after three games in all competitions this season, said he will hold more talks with director of football Jason Wilcox over the disappointing start to the season.
Amorim pays the ticket for 30 ManU backroom staff to watch the Europa League final after the club denies!
In a bid to continue the curtailment of its overall costs, Manchester United management is reportedly refusing to pay for the costs of club staff members’ friends and family to watch the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. Amidst the quandary, club manager Ruben Amorim has stepped in and offered to bear the costs of 30 members of the backroom staff. Football clubs usually offer to pay for friends and family members of the backroom staff to attend big-ticket finals. But with United currently undertaking a raft of severe cost-cutting measures, the club has reportedly told their coaches, physiotherapists, and support staff that there will be no complimentary tickets for next week’s final at Estadio San Mamés. Instead, staff members were told they could purchase up to two tickets from the club’s allocation of 15,000 seats for the game. The New York Times reported that even Manchester United’s players have only been granted two complimentary tickets for their family members to attend the final. Earlier in the year, Manchester United cut jobs and shut down the staff canteen at Old Trafford. It had also stopped the free lunches being offered to staff and instead offered them fruit. At Manchester United’s Carrington training base, players receive lunch as gratis while staff members are now offered soup and bread. Manchester United’s drastic financial belt-tightening measures come after five straight years of financial losses for the club. Both United and Tottenham are looking at the Europa League final as a face-saver for a season of woe, where they are currently in 16th and 17th spots in the Premier League, just above the relegation spots. United has suffered more defeats this season than in any campaign since the Premier League was launched in 1992. The joint-record 20-time English champion is also certain to record its worst-ever points total in that period, as well as its lowest finish.
Amorim admits he may have to leave if poor form of Manchester United continues
Ruben Amorim has admitted he should step aside as manager if Manchester United take their poor league form from the end of this season into the next campaign. United’s appalling finish hit another low note at Old Trafford as they lost 0-2 against West Ham United, the first time in 18 years. West Ham had failed to win any of their previous eight games. As well as questioning his own future, Amorim said: “We are losing the feeling that we are a massive club, and it’s the end of the world to lose a game at home. “If we are not scared of losing a game as Manchester United and don’t have that fear anymore, it is the most dangerous thing a big club can have.” Amorim’s side have only beaten relegated duo Ipswich and Leicester in the league since 26 January and are on their joint worst winless run in the Premier League of seven games. “Everybody here has to think seriously about a lot of things,” said Amorim. “Everybody is thinking about the (Europa League) final. The final is not the issue. We have bigger things to think about. “I’m talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to change that. “It’s a decisive moment in the history of the club. “We need to be strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this. “If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give space to different people.” On a three points for a win basis, United are heading for their worst tally since their 1930-31 relegation campaign, when they would have collected 29 points in a 42-game campaign. Manchester United are on 39 points and 16th on the League table, with only Europa League final opponents Tottenham and the three relegated teams below them.
