Tension grows inside Manchester United as coach Ruben Amorim faces pressure after a poor start and shock Cup defeat. Rumors suggest he may resign if results don’t improve.
The atmosphere inside Manchester United’s dressing room is tense, with growing concern within the club that Ruben Amorim could resign if results do not improve soon.
Amorim is under heavy pressure following a penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby in the League Cup – the first time in United’s history they have lost to a fourth-tier side in the competition. That shock result extended a poor run of form: a loss to Arsenal, a draw with Fulham in the Premier League, and still no wins to date. The pressure is mounting ahead of this weekend’s clash with Burnley.
While United’s board has no immediate plans to sack Amorim, there is a growing feeling inside the club that, unless results improve, the Portuguese manager could choose to step down himself – perhaps even during the upcoming international break – rather than change his methods.
After finishing 15th last season – the lowest Premier League finish in club history – Amorim’s current struggles have led players to question his leadership. His persistence with a 3-4-3 formation has come under intense scrutiny, as the system yielded only 27 points from 29 matches last year.
Amorim’s approach to man-management has also raised eyebrows. Although many players acknowledge his good intentions, his methods have sometimes backfired.
Following the Grimsby defeat, Amorim admitted: “Something has to change.” However, within United, few believe he is willing to abandon his favored system – the same setup that previously brought him success at Sporting Lisbon.
This weekend’s game against Burnley will be United’s final fixture before the international break. On August 28, Old Trafford sources insisted that “everything is still normal.” After the break, United will return with a high-stakes derby against Manchester City on September 14.