Ruben Amorim’s words after the humiliating EFL Cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town sent alarm bells ringing at Old Trafford.
“I think the team and the players spoke really loud today. You can feel that something has to change, and you are not going to change 22 players again,” the Manchester United boss said after the game.
It almost sounded like the Portuguese was ready to resign from his post after a difficult seven months in charge.
However, on Friday, the head coach clarified that his words came from a feeling of frustration after the result, and currently, he has no plans of jumping ship.
Amorim’s words indicated he was quitting “To be really honest with you, guys, every time we have one defeat like that, I am going to be like that. Sometimes I hate my players, sometimes I love my players. Sometimes I want to defend my players. That is my way of doing things and Im going to be like that.”
INEOS officials would have heaved a sigh of relief thinking the circus will now stop. Or so they thought. Journalist Duncan Castles has an explosive update on the situation.
Known for his contacts in Portugal, the reporter told Football Transfers that people close to Amorim have suggested that he could walk if the result is not positive against Burnley on Saturday.
He could still quit “We have Amorim there signalling that he is ready to leave the club, and this is a coach who, in the summer, admitted that he was considering leaving the club during his first season at Man Utd, and had decided to continue.
“A remarkable situation that you have a coach of a club of Man Utd’s stature, who on two occasions has placed himself in a position where he is signalling that he wants to leave.
“I checked this in Portugal yesterday, asked people close to Amorim whether it was the case that he was considering leaving the club, and the feedback I got was that no one is denying he could leave after this weekend’s game against Burnley.
“Man Utd have been briefing that he still has their support, that they are conscious that they don’t want to make the same mistake they made last time season in that they put a lot of money into the transfer market to support Erik ten Hag and ended up dismissing him a few months into the season and bringing Amorim in.”
INEOS will be anxious “However, the transfer insider believes that the situation is becoming increasingly “untenable,” with Amorim clearly having lost faith in his own ability to turn things around. Nothing is set in stone, but the outcome of this weekend’s clash could have a seismic impact on the future of Man Utd.”
That Amorim has tried to quit within the first six months is definitely a bad sign, with the report seemingly hinting at the ex-Sporting CP boss losing faith in his own ability.
He had said he would quit if he felt he was not the right man for the job, and the way his players have been playing, Saturday could turn out to be a pivotal day in United’s recent history.
It almost feels like deja vu after what had transpired last summer with Erik ten Hag. INEOS have spent a lot of money trying to mould the squad in the Portuguese’s image and his departure would mean the club heading back to square one.
Hopefully, the players deliver or once again, Old Trafford will become the graveyard for yet another promising coach.
Feature image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
