Ruben Amorim made the headlines recently after his team’s poor showing versus Brighton and Hove Albion in a 1-3 loss at Old Trafford.
He labelled the side “the worst” in the club’s history and it was also later revealed that he was so furious with his players that he smashed a television in the dressing room.
The Portuguese coach has also frankly admitted that his team could be sucked into a relegation battle if they don’t shape up in 2025.
The Athletic have taken a deep dive into Amorim’s personality, speaking to those who know him best during his time at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
One defining quality of the United coach is he “has always been a firm believer that honesty is the best policy, whether that be with his players, staff or the media.”
This could be seen yesterday after the win versus Fulham when he claimed he would play his goalkeeping coach ahead of any player who did not show 100% in training in reference to Marcus Rashford’s continued exclusion from the team.
This policy of the truth has been evident since his days in Portugal when he told a press conference that he would walk for free in January 2023 if his side did not improve after they were languishing in fourth place in the league.
“Amorim’s communication strategy is very different to that of former United manager Erik ten Hag. He says it how it is and has backed up his words with action”, The Athletic note. This can be seen is dropping of Alejandro Garnacho and Rashford from the squad that played Manchester City last month.
Ten Hag would often irritate fans with his blindingly positive statements on his team’s performance when it was clear that the players had played horribly but Amorim’s “call it as it is” policy is a stark contrast.
Nonetheless, he does not just say what he feels all the time and is “calculated” in what he says and knows when “to cross the line” according to a source in Portugal.
His outbursts of truth are designed as motivational tools and his “worst team” comment can be compared to his statement last season that if Sporting did not win the league, he would leave the team.
Nonetheless, what did contrast with his usual style was the smashing of a TV at Old Trafford as he usually does not talk to the players until the day after a game to be able to communicate in a less emotionally charged way.
His honesty can be seen as refreshing and certainly most of his former players had little trouble with it.
One of his former players told The Athletic, “we prefer the truth, good or bad, he tells us everything. We knew it was always for the good of the team. For him, the team is above everything and everyone.”
Another claimed, “the minimum is to give the maximum. If not, he doesn’t care about the names. He is very strict”, as Rashford can attest to.
Amorim has never faced a situation in his managerial career like he has in Manchester and is clearly frustrated in a way he never has been.
As he celebrates his 40th birthday, one thing is for sure, he will never stray from his “non-negotiable” quality, honesty with the players, board and fans.
Featured image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
