Ruben Amorim faces ‘huge Man United test’ as ‘shock’ sack verdict emerges
Ruben Amorim has not completely eased the pressure on his position at Man United despite an impressive turnaround and is now facing a new challenge.
That is according to former Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who worked at Old Trafford for over a decade during the club’s most successful period, as he exclusively told Football Insider that dealing with the absence of Bryan Mbeumo will be the next big test.
Mbeumo will go to the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, while Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are set to represent Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively.
As a result, United will suffer heavy blows to their depth on the right-hand side, and Amorim will miss players who have proved crucial to United’s turnaround.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider on 29 November that AFCON is causing “massive” concerns for Amorim and there are fears about the impact of losing players.
Ruben Amorim facing ‘huge’ test after Bryan Mbeumo news
Brown told Football Insider in October that Mbeumo has spearheaded Man United’s transformation, and his performances have been crucial to their recent success.
However, the former scout who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment and also worked for the likes of Tottenham, Aston Villa and West Ham, warned that losing key players could see United’s recent form plummet.
“There’s another huge test Amorim will have to face,” he told Football Insider.
“Losing Mbeumo is going to be a big blow, because he’s so important to what Man United have done recently with his pace, drive and impact on that right-hand side.
“They don’t have anybody who gives them the type of energy he gives going forward.
“Plus, Amad and Mazraoui will be going away too, so that’s the right-hand side weakened.
“Now, the manager needs to find a way of coping without these players and without the impact Mbeumo gives them, because they don’t have great depth in the side.
“However he feels might be best to deal with it, it’s something that will have to work, because otherwise results and performances are going to nosedive.
“Things aren’t perfect as it is, so to lose such important players, I can see them really struggling.
“At this point, it would be a shock if he was sacked, something dramatic would have to happen so I understand that, but there are definitely concerns.
“If he now loses Mbeumo to AFCON and the other players as well, and these results and performances have a sudden dip, then we’ll know why.”
Amorim facing renewed sack pressure at Man United
Brown told Football Insider on 9 December that doubts about Amorim’s future have lingered despite their turnaround in form so far this season.
Despite Man United beating Wolves 4-1 last time out, there are concerns that their style allowed them to be “bullied” in results against the likes of Everton and West Ham.
Meanwhile, they have failed to end their recent run of inconsistent results, picking up two wins, one defeat and three draws in their last six games.
As a result, questions are once again starting to be asked of Amorim’s management, despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s commitment to backing the manager.
A visit from Bournemouth is next up for the Red Devils at Old Trafford, and another defeat could see fingers pointed towards Amorim once more.
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