Ruben Amorim offered his “clear position” on why Manchester United are struggling this season in a “direct face-to-face conversation” with Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the club’s training ground, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
Ratcliffe flies in
Ratcliffe flew into Carrington yesterday by helicopter for a series of meetings, including one with his head coach. But sources insist these were “long planned” and not in response to United’s poor start to the new campaign, The Athletic reveals.
The INEOS chairman and United co-owner was in attendance for the Manchester Derby as he watched his team fall to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to City.
It marked the third defeat in five games, including the humiliating loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, with only a solitary win against newly-promoted Burnley to cling on to for Amorim.
United’s hierarchy continue to back the Portuguese coach with evidence of improved performance metrics this season cited to highlight a level of progress from last year.
This is yet to be reflected in results, however – and football, much like the other areas of Ratcliffe’s portfolio, is a results-driven business.
Ratcliffe and Amorim speak face-to-face
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano confirmed Ratcliffe’s presence at Carrington yesterday with the British billionaire speaking to Amorim directly about the team’s struggles.
“Ratcliffe was at the Etihad stadium for the derby… don’t underestimate the presence of Ratcliffe who wants to be present and involved in the conversations and part of the process to understand what is not working, why Man Utd are performing at this level.
“Ratcliffe flew into Carrington and had several meetings. Sources at Man Utd make very clear those meetings were planned, they were already planned even before the derby result.
“But in these meetings there was also a conversation, a direct face-to-face conversation with Ruben Amorim.”
In this meeting, the Portuguese coach was adamant – as he has constantly reiterated in press-conferences – that United’s issues are not to do with his 3-4-2-1 system.
“Amorim has a very clear position about [why Man Utd are struggling]. A position that regards the [lack of] intensity of the team… different approach wanted. It’s not about the system that’s creating the problem for Man Utd in the view of the manager.
“This is why Amorim goes public and says ‘it’s not about the philosophy, if you want to change the philosophy you have to change the man’.
“Amorim is fully convinced it’s not about the tactical approach or the system or philosophy. This is what Amorim keeps telling people at the club in conversations with the directors and management, and also in the conversations with Ratcliffe.
“So now it’s about getting different results. Obviously it was a week full of rumours for Man Utd after the start of the season was really poor.
“Many have asked me about managers and candidates [to replace Amorim]… we are NOT at the stage where we can say ‘this guy can be the next Man Utd manager or the other guy is the main candidate.’
“Man Utd have not started any official conversation with other managers. [United have] respect for Amorim, [they] keep working with Amorim to improve the squad, but it’s also important to say that obviously, results are needed. They can’t continue like this forever. Amorim is aware of this situation.”
Romano concludes by revealing INEOS “keep trusting Amorim, but different results are needed and the presence of the co-owner (Ratcliffe) I think is quite a clear message in that sense.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
