Sometimes you simply don’t believe what you read, but talkSPORT, which comes with today’s big Manchester United news, is often right.
It will be a tough few days for Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim where he has had the opposite hockey stick effect since he took over from Erik ten Hag. On September 11, which was his first day, Manchester United were down in 13th place. Before the game against Newcastle, they are in 14th place.
Manchester United have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions and suffered disappointing defeats to Bournemouth and Wolves over Christmas. The Portuguese coach has rotated the squad regularly, but is sticking to a system of back three with wing-backs without much success so far.
He has stressed that it will take time for the squad to adapt to his methods and way of playing, but a new report claims that United previously had reservations about the former Sporting and Braga boss.
It has been widely reported that United spoke to a number of managers over the summer before finally deciding to keep Ten Hag on the back of their FA Cup triumph against Manchester City at Wembley.
According to talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook, INEOS was offered Amorim – which was previously courted by other Premier League clubs. They are said to have rejected the 39-year-old as they didn’t feel his approach was a good fit for United’s players – only to change the tune a few months into the season.
“I also know this that ownership was offered to Ruben Amorim in the summer when they did a beauty parade with different executives.
“They spoke to Roberto De Zerbi, Kieran McKenna, Thomas Tuchel and they said no to Amorim because his style didn’t suit this Man United squad.
“They then hired him X number of weeks later. It doesn’t fill you with confidence, does it?”.
Amorim’s football is one that requires high intensity and a number of United’s players have struggled to cope with the demands of a change in the way they play.
Even after spending £600m on players for Ten Hag, United now look like they need another complete rebuilding job.
Crook accuses Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS of poor planning, adding: “It’s on INEOS then, isn’t it? They did pre-season with a manager who played a style of football – not that we ever really knew what it was – so they spent a lot of money to get players who fit that manager before he sacked him.”
Knowing what we know, it’s easy to imagine that Ruben Amorim doesn’t have long left at Old Trafford.
