Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim did not shy away from harsh criticism when he described his Manchester United team as “probably the worst team in the club’s history.” He made this statement during the press conference after United’s 3-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford in the 22nd round of the Premier League. The defeat saw United drop to 13th place in the table with only 26 points, sitting 24 points behind league leaders Liverpool and just 10 points above the relegation zone.
United’s recent record paints a grim picture, with only three wins in their last ten games. This makes it one of the poorest runs among Premier League teams, excluding those in the bottom four. However, this period also included a surprising victory over Manchester City in the derby and an impressive draw against Liverpool, in a match where the Red Devils performed well above expectations.
Amorim joined the club with high hopes, thanks to his success at Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese league over the past two seasons. However, his time at Old Trafford so far has been underwhelming, with results making him look worse than any of the managers who have taken on the “mission impossible” of leading Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
Manchester United’s heavy legacy
It has been more than a decade since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as Manchester United’s manager at the end of the 2012-13 season. Ferguson delivered unprecedented success, including 13 Premier League titles out of the club’s total 20.
Since then, no manager has managed to replicate his success. Despite United spending heavily in the transfer market, none of the club’s coaches have been able to build a team capable of consistently challenging for the league title. The Red Devils have only finished as runners-up twice during this period—under Jose Mourinho in the 2017-18 season and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020-21.
Based on statistics, Ruben Amorim has become the worst-performing manager in the post-Ferguson era when analysing results from the first 11 games in charge. The Portuguese manager has collected just 11 points during this period. Comparatively, Louis van Gaal managed 16 points, Mourinho 18, and both Erik ten Hag and David Moyes reached 20 points in their first 11 games. The best record belongs to Solskjaer, who secured an incredible 29 points during the same period.
Confession and determination
Amorim has acknowledged that his results with Manchester United so far are disappointing, particularly for a club of this size. He admitted that he understands the anger of the fans and the criticism from the media, but he remains committed to his approach. He believes his philosophy will eventually pay off.
During his time at Sporting Lisbon, Amorim achieved success by relying on a tactical 3-4-2-1 formation. Despite not having the players to fully implement this system at Manchester United, he continues to use it, standing firm in his belief that this is the right way forward.
The coach currently enjoys the backing of the club’s management and a significant portion of the fans. However, if results do not improve soon, this support may waver. While some appreciate Amorim’s commitment to preparing the team for the future, others are concerned about whether his stubbornness will yield positive results.
Finals, not just matches
Manchester United face a gruelling schedule before the next international break. The team are set to play nine matches in the Premier League, at least one FA Cup fixture, and two games in the Europa League.
Amorim knows that these are not just regular matches but critical finals that could define the season. He must deliver positive results to improve the team’s position in the league before the crucial final stretch. Securing a European qualification spot through the league seems almost impossible at this point. Therefore, winning one of the two remaining cups—the FA Cup or the Europa League—might be the only way for United to salvage their season.
