Laurie Whitwell has shared his take on Ruben Amorim’s job security at Manchester United.
From the journalist’s perspective, he believes that INEOS will be more determined to stick with Amorim because they personally chose him to occupy the role, whereas Erik ten Hag was already at the helm when they arrived in February 2024.
They relieved Ten Hag, who was sacked by Bayer Leverkusen this season after just two league games in charge, of his duties last October, with United 14th-placed in the table.
When INEOS decided to call it quits with Ten Hag
The side had overseen only three wins from their opening nine matches and had drawn all three of their opening Europa League games. A 2-1 defeat away to West Ham United was deemed the final straw for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and he subsequently pulled the plug on Ten Hag’s two-and-a-half-year spell.
When scouring the market for his replacement, the hierarchy landed on Amorim, who, in May 2021, had led Sporting Lisbon to their first league title in 19 years. At the time he bid farewell to the Lions, he had not tasted defeat in 2024/2025.
You can see why INEOS perhaps viewed the coach as something of a safe bet, but they have since had their decision come back to bite them in the behind.
Saturday’s defeat to Brentford marked the 17th Premier League game that Amorim has lost, whilst he has also claimed only 34 points from 33 matches.
Whitwell weighs in on under-pressure Amorim
“If Ruben Amorim goes, does that bring the spotlight on Omar Berrada, on Jason Wilcox, on other people that were involved in getting to this point?” questioned Whitwell on the Talk of the Devils podcast.
“I think that’s why they would ultimately want to see it through and I think they do still feel like it could still work, but I think you’re getting to a point now where those questions are going to become louder and louder and ultimately results will dictate it.
“I think it’s fragile. I do think that [the hierarchy] want it to work because they know what the ramifications are, but I feel that you can’t ignore the results if they continue like this.”
