Ruben Amorim has openly acknowledged the scrutiny from former Manchester United legends and football pundits as the Red Devils continue to fall short of expectations this season.
The Portuguese manager even joked that if his team were winning, he could “ride to games on a horse” without raising eyebrows.
The remarks come in the wake of criticism from Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt over Amorim’s management of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who is expected to pursue another loan move in the January transfer window.
Mainoo’s Loan Future Sparks Debate
Mainoo, 20, has yet to make a Premier League start this season, prompting calls from the former United stars for him to leave for the sake of his development.
Amorim, however, maintains that the midfielder hasn’t fully capitalized on his chances and stressed that he assesses players based on performance, not reputation.
“Sometimes they don’t have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards they lived here, always winning.
So it’s hard for them to see their club in this situation,” Amorim explained ahead of Monday night’s clash with Bournemouth.
Amorim Admits Responsibility for Team’s Struggles
The United boss was candid about the team’s underperformance, taking responsibility for the club not hitting its expected points tally this season.
“I take that naturally. It’s a fact that, as a manager of Manchester United, we are underachieving,” he said.
“The problem is that I’m not doing good enough, and I can accept that. Not winning is the issue.”
Amorim added with a touch of humor, “If I’m winning, I could arrive on a horse, play with just two defenders, and it would all be fine.
At Sporting, there were no issues because we were winning all the time.”
Napoli Remains Mainoo’s Preferred Destination
Mainoo reportedly had his sights set on Napoli during the summer loan window, a move United ultimately rejected.
With January approaching, the Italian club remains at the forefront of potential suitors.
“I haven’t spoken with him about that recently,” Amorim said.
“I’ve had conversations with him last year, and with other players, but not about that subject.
The team comes first, and I’d be happy if Kobbie talks to me about it.
I want my players happy and understand everyone has their own goals.”
Amorim also suggested that tactical setups impact Mainoo’s playing time: “We play with two midfielders.
You see Kobbie one way, I see him another.
Maybe if we played with three midfielders, he’d get more minutes.”
No Sentimentality for Academy Players
United has a proud history of promoting youth players to the first team, but Amorim insists performance, not loyalty, drives his decisions.
He offered a frank evaluation of some of the club’s academy graduates, including Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Chido Obi, and Harry Amass.
“Of course he’s not playing so many games, but Kobbie has had opportunities, especially last year. Everyone has,” Amorim said.
He continued, “Toby went to West Brom and didn’t play much.
He played for Manchester United. Sometimes it’s not about being from the academy.
Amass is struggling in the Championship. Chido isn’t always starting in the Under-21s.
All these guys played while people were calling for the manager to be sacked.”
Looking Ahead
Amorim’s comments highlight the balancing act he faces—nurturing talent while demanding results in a high-pressure environment.
As the January window looms, the futures of Mainoo and other young stars will remain closely watched, but for Amorim, winning remains the top priority.
Ruben Amorim has openly acknowledged the scrutiny from former Manchester United legends and football pundits as the Red Devils continue to fall short of expectations this season.
The Portuguese manager even joked that if his team were winning, he could “ride to games on a horse” without raising eyebrows.
The remarks come in the wake of criticism from Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt over Amorim’s management of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who is expected to pursue another loan move in the January transfer window.
Mainoo’s Loan Future Sparks Debate
Mainoo, 20, has yet to make a Premier League start this season, prompting calls from the former United stars for him to leave for the sake of his development.
Amorim, however, maintains that the midfielder hasn’t fully capitalized on his chances and stressed that he assesses players based on performance, not reputation.
“Sometimes they don’t have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards they lived here, always winning.
So it’s hard for them to see their club in this situation,” Amorim explained ahead of Monday night’s clash with Bournemouth.
Amorim Admits Responsibility for Team’s Struggles
The United boss was candid about the team’s underperformance, taking responsibility for the club not hitting its expected points tally this season.
“I take that naturally. It’s a fact that, as a manager of Manchester United, we are underachieving,” he said.
“The problem is that I’m not doing good enough, and I can accept that. Not winning is the issue.”
Amorim added with a touch of humor, “If I’m winning, I could arrive on a horse, play with just two defenders, and it would all be fine.
At Sporting, there were no issues because we were winning all the time.”
Napoli Remains Mainoo’s Preferred Destination
Mainoo reportedly had his sights set on Napoli during the summer loan window, a move United ultimately rejected.
With January approaching, the Italian club remains at the forefront of potential suitors.
“I haven’t spoken with him about that recently,” Amorim said.
“I’ve had conversations with him last year, and with other players, but not about that subject.
The team comes first, and I’d be happy if Kobbie talks to me about it.
I want my players happy and understand everyone has their own goals.”
Amorim also suggested that tactical setups impact Mainoo’s playing time: “We play with two midfielders.
You see Kobbie one way, I see him another.
Maybe if we played with three midfielders, he’d get more minutes.”
No Sentimentality for Academy Players
United has a proud history of promoting youth players to the first team, but Amorim insists performance, not loyalty, drives his decisions.
He offered a frank evaluation of some of the club’s academy graduates, including Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Chido Obi, and Harry Amass.
“Of course he’s not playing so many games, but Kobbie has had opportunities, especially last year. Everyone has,” Amorim said.
He continued, “Toby went to West Brom and didn’t play much.
He played for Manchester United. Sometimes it’s not about being from the academy.
Amass is struggling in the Championship. Chido isn’t always starting in the Under-21s.
All these guys played while people were calling for the manager to be sacked.”
Looking Ahead
Amorim’s comments highlight the balancing act he faces—nurturing talent while demanding results in a high-pressure environment.
As the January window looms, the futures of Mainoo and other young stars will remain closely watched, but for Amorim, winning remains the top priority.
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