Manchester United insiders fear Ruben Amorim may resign rather than be sacked.
Amorim is understood to be taken aback by how much scrutiny is on a United manager and the knee-jerk reaction to every defeat.
A disastrous defeat to Brentford at the weekend ensured Amorim became the manager with the sixth-lowest points tally after 33 games coached at any club in the history of the Premier League.
Another loss at home to Sunderland at the weekend would pile the pressure on Amorim yet further, with a growing number of supporters calling for a change in the managerial hotseat.
The i Paper has been told, however, that co-owners Ineos is willing to be patient with the beleaguered Portuguese, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe described as “desperate” to give his manager a full season to prove himself.
Two other sources have insisted there is a chance Amorim could jump before he is pushed.
One insider insisted Amorim will soon have to consider how to preserve his own long-term reputation and added he could “walk away” before his Premier League record becomes any more embarrassing and potentially career-defining.
Saturday’s Brentford defeat was seen as a real setback given the manner of the loss, especially on the back of a success over Chelsea the previous week. Ineos, however, is confident Amorim can learn from mistakes made in that game.
The club are determined to take a long-term view with all the decisions they make, whether that be recruitment, facility upgrades or the hiring and firing of coaching staff.
Club sources are adamant, despite intense speculation, no Amorim replacements are being lined up. The club actively contacted several candidates to replace Erik ten Hag while the Dutchman was still at the Old Trafford helm, but insiders say there has been no repeat of that this time, with faith that Amorim can turn things around remaining.
Ratcliffe is a long-term admirer of Gareth Southgate, ensuring those reports are not going to go away. Contrary to speculation, however, the former England manager has not been contacted by Old Trafford officials over succeeding Amorim.
If results do not improve, there is a feeling that if Amorim does leave, an interim until the end of the season could be the way Ineos goes. Michael Carrick, who left his role as Middlesbrough manager at the end of last season, is one potential option.
Amorim has been joined in training by the one and only member of United’s “bomb squad” who did not leave the club in the summer – Tyrell Malacia – this week.
The 26-year-old, who almost joined Spanish club Elche and Turkey’s Eyupspor before the summer transfer window closed, initially trained on his own, along with members of the coaching staff, but was then integrated into the Under-21 squad.
Having held a meeting with Amorim this week, Malacia has been brought back into the first-team unit and is training with the rest of his teammates.
United insist this was always going to be what happened with Malacia and it is not a reaction to recent results or injuries.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/6UdIVhz
Post a Comment