Sophia
Manchester United’s board is reportedly standing by manager Ruben Amorim, but cracks are beginning to show within the dressing room after a humiliating Carabao Cup exit. The pressure is mounting on the Portuguese coach, with Saturday’s Premier League clash against Burnley now a critical “must-win” fixture.
Carabao Cup Catastrophe Sparks Crisis Talk
The Red Devils suffered a significant blow midweek, crashing out of the Carabao Cup to League Two side Grimsby Town. After falling 2-0 down, United clawed their way back only to lose a dramatic penalty shootout. Amorim’s reaction was telling; he couldn’t bear to watch any of the 26 spot-kicks, huddled dejectedly in the dugout.
In a series of candid post-match interviews, a visibly distraught Amorim lamented, “Something has to change and you’re not going to change 22 players again.” This statement, coupled with his demeanor, has fueled speculation about his future.
Board Backing, Dressing Room Doubts
Despite the recent struggles and the hefty £21 million ($28.3 million) investment to bring Amorim from Sporting CP just ten months ago – not to mention the £200 million spent on new attackers this summer – The Times reports that the board, including influential co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, intends to support Amorim for now. He is expected to lead the team for Saturday’s trip to Burnley.
However, this backing doesn’t extend to all corners of Old Trafford. The Guardian claims that an unnamed number of players have “questioned” Amorim’s “tactics and man-management.” This internal dissent is a significant concern, especially given the manager’s own post-match comments where he suggested his players “spoke really loudly about what they want today” after starting the Grimsby defeat “without any intensity” and looking “completely lost.”
The possibility of Amorim resigning during the upcoming September international break, which follows the Burnley game, is a very real suggestion.
A Potential Return to Portugal?
Intriguingly, The Times also speculates that should Amorim depart Old Trafford, a return to Portugal could be on the cards. He is linked with Sporting’s fierce rivals, Benfica, the club where he spent the majority of his playing career. Presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes is reportedly “hopeful” of appointing Amorim if he wins the upcoming club elections.
Burnley: A Pivotal Moment
With the international break looming, the match against Burnley takes on immense importance. “Let’s focus on the next game and then we have time to think about things,” Amorim told MUTV. “We have a job to do, a job to prepare, and then we will stop and think things through.” This weekend could well define the immediate future of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.
