After yet another tough loss for Manchester United, manager Ruben Amorim has opened up about the possibility of stepping down if he cannot turn the team’s disastrous form around next season.
Following a 2-0 defeat to West Ham on Sunday, which marked the 17th league loss of the season, Amorim admitted that his position at the club could be in jeopardy if things do not improve rapidly.
Frustration and Embarrassment Following Another Setback
In an emotional post-match press conference, a clearly frustrated Amorim did not hold back, expressing his deep dissatisfaction with the team’s lack of urgency and passion.
He accused his players of no longer caring about the outcome of matches and suggested that United had lost its sense of pride as one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Amorim, visibly embarrassed, was blunt about his feelings.
“How is a manager of Manchester United supposed to feel in that position? Embarrassed. It’s hard to accept,” he said.
He continued, stressing the need for a serious rethink within the club, adding that the upcoming summer would be crucial for rebuilding the team’s mentality and morale.
“We are losing the feeling of being a massive club.
It’s the end of the world to lose a game at home, and I think that is the biggest concern at our club right now,” he explained.
A Manager Taking Responsibility for the Crisis
Amorim has always been clear about his role in the team’s performance, and once again, he took full responsibility for their struggles.
He acknowledged that while his players had contributed to the poor results, the buck stopped with him.
His blunt statement suggested that if he couldn’t quickly change the course of the team’s fortunes, the club might need to consider a new direction.
“It’s not the players’ fault. It’s my fault, I’m responsible,” he said.
“If we cannot change things really fast, we should give our place to different people.”
His words left little room for optimism, as the manager hinted at the possibility of stepping down if the situation didn’t improve.
Europa League Final Not a Priority for Amorim
Despite Manchester United’s upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on May 21, Amorim made it clear that he was not overly concerned with the match.
He described the final as “by far the smallest problem in our club,” emphasizing that the team’s underlying issues were far more urgent.
“We are showing at the end of this season that we are not ready for the Premier League and Champions League.
For us, that feels like the moon,” he said, referring to the gap between United’s current form and the expectations placed on them.
Amorim added that the focus should be on the immediate task of improving performances, starting with their next Premier League match against Chelsea.
Captain Bruno Fernandes Agrees on the Team’s Lack of Focus
United captain Bruno Fernandes echoed his manager’s sentiments, acknowledging that many players seemed to be more focused on the upcoming final than on the immediate challenges at hand.
However, there was additional concern regarding the fitness of Leny Yoro, who went off injured during the West Ham match.
Amorim confirmed that Yoro would need further assessment, though he left the stadium without a protective boot or crutches, offering some hope that the injury may not be as serious as initially feared.
A Lack of Fear and the Threat of Major Change
One of Amorim’s biggest concerns is the lack of fear around losing matches, which he believes is a critical issue within the squad.
He suggested that this absence of urgency and mental focus could be the primary factor preventing the team from performing at the level expected of a club like Manchester United.
“It’s a feeling, not necessarily about culture,” Amorim explained. “We’re sometimes not focused.
We don’t have that feeling that we need to win to go to the next stage, like we have in the Europa League. It’s something mentally wrong with the team.”
With just one more Premier League game against Chelsea before the Europa League final, Amorim’s future at United remains uncertain.
The upcoming matches could very well determine whether he remains in charge or if the club, under new ownership from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, seeks a fresh start next season.