‘Ruben Amorim regrets Man United move, doesn’t believe he can do it’
Man United manager Ruben Amorim will be questioning his decision to take the job at Old Trafford and doubting he can succeed, according to Paul Merson.
The Portuguese manager has struggled to improve the Red Devils since taking over from Erik ten Hag in November.
Amorim’s side have only won one of their last six Premier League matches, having drawn one, and lost four.
The former Sporting CP manager has fans concerned that he may have lost the dressing room after calling his side “the worst in Man United history.” [Sky Sports]
Former Arsenal midfielder Merson doubts their chances of rebounding and spoke about Amorim’s state of mind on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (1.51pm, 25 January), saying: “I just don’t see it. I struggle and I think this manager, he’ll be sitting there, deep down, thinking ‘Should I have taken this job?’
“He didn’t want to take it until the end of the season, do you know what I mean? I think he’ll be sitting there now thinking ‘I ain’t sure I can do this job’.
“And I don’t think it’s just him, I think any manager. You look at the [Financial] Fair Play rules and how far they’re behind now. Look where they are in the league, they’re 13th, and Tim [Sherwood] summed it up, Bournemouth have got better players. When has that ever happened?”
Man United already at a crossroads with Ruben Amorim
Football Insider Verdict
Jim Ratcliffe has not hired a bad manager, but he may have hired the wrong one.
The Portuguese boss has steadfastly stuck with his 3-4-2-1 tactical approach, in spite of the lack of familiarity his crop of players have with the system.
Amorim is understood, as Merson eluded to, to have wanted to wait until the summer to take over at United.
Amorim knew that the current squad needed a serious overhaul, and a full pre-season, to learn his system, but Ratcliffe and the United board were insistent he need to join in November.
To the surprise of few, United’s players look like they do not understand the system, and could probably do with some time to learn it.
Ratcliffe is attempting to back his manager by signing some wing-backs, something Amorim’s squad does not have, and a deal for Patrick Dorgu from Lecce looks close to being completed.
However, it is going to take more than just one wing-back being added to the squad to know if Amorim truly does have what it takes to lead United to success. We will likely only see the true capability of his system next season.
In other news, Alejandro Garnacho has sent a message as exit rumours run wild.
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