The 40-year-old arrived at Old Trafford in November with a glowing reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young managers, following an impressive stint at Sporting Lisbon.
Brimming with confidence, Amorim’s early press conferences were marked by his belief that, despite his relative inexperience, he was the right person to steer United back to glory. .Continue Reading
However, his commitment to his trusted 3-4-3 formation saw only a brief period of optimism before he quickly grasped the daunting scale of the challenge ahead.
Following a disappointing run of just one win in eight games, ESPN reported that Amorim became so overwhelmed that he was ready to step down and resign.
Ultimately, he was convinced to stay after receiving reassurance from close advisors and a strong vote of confidence from club chief executive Omar Berrada, who reportedly noticed the pressure taking a visible toll on him.
Berrada, who joined United’s leadership structure from Manchester City last year, assured Amorim that he would receive full backing in the summer transfer market, regardless of how the club finished the season.
Manchester United’s unwanted records this season
– After finishing eighth last season—their worst Premier League placement—United find themselves in an even deeper rut, currently sitting 16th. Even with a final-day victory, they can only climb as high as 14th, provided Wolves and West Ham both fail to win.
– They are on track to record their lowest-ever wins and points tally in the league. A victory over Aston Villa would bring their totals to 11 wins and 42 points—well below their previous worst of 16 wins and 58 points in the 2021/22 season.
– Their 18 defeats mark a new low in the Premier League era, surpassing last season’s previous worst by four losses. Furthermore, their ongoing eight-game winless streak is the longest in the club’s top-flight history, eclipsing the seven-match drought from 1992.
– United are set to end the campaign with their lowest-ever Premier League goal tally unless they manage an unlikely seven-goal haul against Villa to match their 49-goal total from 2015/16. Defensively, only twice have they conceded more than this season’s 54 goals—with 57 allowed in 2021/22 and a record-breaking 58 last term.
– Unless Bruno Fernandes scores at least two or Amad Diallo nets three against Villa, United will finish the season without a single player reaching double-digit goals for the first time in their Premier League history.
– United dismissed Erik ten Hag in October, just four months after handing him a contract extension. His successor, Ruben Amorim, has endured a tough spell, winning and losing 15 matches across all competitions—his 37.5% win rate is the lowest of any United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.
Despite their disappointing domestic campaign, United still have a chance to salvage something from the season.
Their Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday offers the possibility of securing a third major trophy in three seasons, earning Champions League qualification, and landing a financial boost of up to £100 million.
Meanwhile, club executive Omar Berrada is standing by his commitment to strengthening the squad, which has struggled to adapt to Amorim’s tactical approach.
Negotiations for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha are advancing rapidly, and optimism is growing that United will finalize a £60 million deal soon.
‘I have the same information as you. I don’t know. I just know he’s my player,’ said Wolves manager Vitor Pereira on Monday when asked about his star player’s future.
‘He’s committed with the team, he’s working with happiness and we will see what happens. You must ask him. He is happy. I feel he is happy.’
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