Manchester United have managed only four wins in 11 since Ruben Amorim came onboard, with only two victories coming in the Premier League.
This disastrous run of form has left the Red Devils languishing in 14th position and the Portuguese has admitted that a relegation scrap could be on the cards.
However, despite the poor results, the Portuguese is hardly to blame with the current squad looking ill-equipped to carry out his demands.
That is because most of the players were recruited by INEOS and Erik ten Hag to fit the Dutchman’s chaotic counter-attacking style of play and now when asked to play a possession-based style, these players are struggling massively.
INEOS’ summer decision costing United and Amorim
With Ten Hag no longer at the helm, the new co-owners need to shoulder most of the blame as they had the chance to start afresh in the summer but chose to back the Dutchman instead.
United had finished eighth, their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League era, and it was evidence enough that Ten Hag’s methods were not working.
Even more damning evidence has been provided by Talksport journalist Alex Crook, who has claimed that Amorim was available in the summer and that the 20-time English league champions had turned him down as they felt he was not the right fit for the current squad.
“I know this for a fact, that ownership were offered Ruben Amorim in the summer when they were doing a beauty parade of different managers.
“They were speaking to Roberto De Zerbi, Kieran McKenna, Thomas Tuchel and they said no to Amorim because his style didn’t fit this Man United squad. They then hired him X amount of weeks later. It doesn’t fill you with confidence, does it?”
But what followed was yet another poor start to the season and INEOS panicked and sacked the ex-Ajax boss and ultimately, plumped for Amorim knowing the squad’s deficiencies. And the results have been there for all to see.
INEOS could have hired Amorim in the summer
As a result of their sack decision, INEOS had to payoff Ten Hag while also paying compensation to Sporting Lisbon for taking their manager mid-season. Both of these costs could have been offset if Ten Hag was shown the door in the summer.
Instead, more players who fit his Dutch-philosophy arrived and now, Amorim, who did not have a pre-season and only four training sessions, is having to try and get these overpaid prima donnas to try and play his way.
He could compromise to a certain extent but has promised not to do so for long-term gains. But INEOS have ruined the current season and have sunk the club to greater depths.
They must recruit smartly in January to help Amorim get United out of this predicament. Or else, even greater dangers lurk ahead.
Feature image Gabriel Kuchta 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
