Ruben Amorim had an interesting press conference ahead of what could be a vital match for his Manchester United career.
Following last weekend’s abysmal 1-3 defeat in Brentford, the Portuguese manager lost more supporters, while the disgruntled voices grew ever louder.
After the contest, Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reiterated his backing for Amorim, but most accounts agree that INEOS are already studying their options, even though they haven’t opened talks with any potential replacement.
Ruben Amorim points the finger towards Man Utd legends & pundits
With his team lying 14th in the Premier League table, Amorim was once again forced to answer questions regarding his controversial 3-4-2-1 system which has been put under scrutiny since Day One.
The 40-year-old went on the counter-attack, accusing pundits and observers of turning his players against them with their constant chastising of this formation.
“I understand when people think ‘what would this team be like in a different system?’” said Amotim in his pre-match presser as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“Maybe this team would win more games. But if we don’t change certain things, we are not going to win titles, even if we change to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.
“That is my point with the players. I don’t want to change your mind, but my players, I guarantee you, they are listening to all the opinions and they are putting that inside because we are not winning games. They have to believe in me. So my biggest problem is that my players believe in you guys when you say the problem with our team is the system.
Amorim was likely referencing a host of Man Utd legends who have pointed the finger towards his system, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.
“I get crazy about that, because we need to play the same way, with the same power, with the same intensity, with the same focus. If you do that, it doesn’t matter about the system.
“There is no one in the world who can read everything and listen to everything about people who understand football and not be influenced by that.
“So I try to listen and to see all the games because I know that I see the game more times than all those guys [pundits] together, because they have to see all the games in the Premier League and give an opinion.
“My opinion is completely different because I see the games, I see training, I understand my players, I understand what I’m doing and I follow my job this way because it’s impossible to survive in this club, listening to all the things.”
Amorim not concerned about losing Man Utd job
In the aftermath of Brentford’s defeat, Amorim was described as ‘lonely’ and ‘broken’ by Carrington insiders. However, the manager cut a more determined figure in the press conference.
The former Sporting CP manager expressed his desire to stay at United and help the club achieve his goals, while insisting that he’s more worried about than his job.
“Of course, it’s a dream to be here and I want to continue here and I want to fight for this. But what makes me suffer is to lose games, it’s not to lose my job. You fear to lose your job when you have to pay the bills and I don’t have that feeling.
“So it’s not the fear of losing the job. I don’t care. I’m telling you, when we finish the game and you can see me, I don’t care about my job. That hurt of not winning games or failing, that is the thing that hurts me the most.”
The under-fire manager would certainly want to turn the page, beginning with a timely win over Sunderland on Saturday. The match kicks off at 15:00 UK time.
