“Like father and son”: Ten Hag reject reveals heartbreak at INEOS’ brutal decision to sack Amorim

Manchester United winger Amad has reacted to Ruben Amorim’s departure, describing the decision as “very sad” while paying the Portuguese tactician the ultimate compliment as a coach. A Shock Decision INEOS sent shockwaves across Old Trafford on Monday when it was announced Amorim had been dismissed, along with his entire coaching staff, after weeks of building friction behind the scenes. Amorim’s struggles since arriving from Sporting CP in November 2024 were evident in the team’s performances on the pitch. Ruben Amorim managerial stats at Man United PlayedWonDrawnLostWin % 6324182138 Under the 40-year-old’s watch, United recorded the worst win ratio (32%), the highest goals conceded per game (1.53), and the lowest clean sheet rate (15%) of any United manager in modern history. The 15th-place finish last season was the club’s worst campaign in the Premier League era. The only source of stability for Amorim off the pitch, with zero evidence to bolster his position on it, was INEOS’s steadfast support. As such, there was little surprise he was sent packing the moment he started publicly questioning their decision-making. There were few bright spots in Amorim’s tenure, but the outstanding progression of Amad, despite being deployed in an unfamiliar right wing-back role, was certainly one. The 23-year-old scored nine goals and registered seven assists across 34 Premier League appearances under Amorim. Only Bruno Fernandes was involved in more goals in the same timeframe, while Amad also completed the most dribbles in the squad with 59. The Ivory Coast international, who is currently representing his country at the African Cup of Nations, paid tribute to Amorim for giving him “more visibility and more opportunities” at Old Trafford. A Father Figure “It was a tough topic,” Amad reveals when describing his reaction to learning Amorim was gone. “I was a bit sad because he’s the coach who gave me more visibility and more opportunities to play for Manchester United. I was very sad. I even sent him a message to thank him for everything he did for me, both in my life and especially in my career.” “I wished him good luck wherever he goes. It was a difficult moment for me, but I’m really focused on Ivory Coast and on this competition. I want to finish well here and try to win this AFCON. Under Amorim’s predecessor, Erik ten Hag, Amad had struggled for minutes, with the Dutch manager bizarrely preferring a host of other options to the Ivorian, including Antony and Omari Forson, neither of whom remain at the club. It’s little wonder, therefore, that Amad pays tribute to a coach who recognised his technique and industry mattered far more than his diminutive frame. The winger even describes Amorim as a father figure, a particularly poignant compliment given Amad’s own father passed away earlier in the season. “We had a very good relationship, almost like a father-and-son relationship. He understood me, gave me a lot of advice, and let me play freely. It’s very unfortunate, but that’s life. You have to adapt, that’s football.” It is a familiar story for a United coach’s tenure to end unceremoniously, with a long line of victims falling foul of the same fate as Amorim. But the overwhelmingly negative reactions – or positive, depending on your perspective – from the dressing room to INEOS’s decision shows Amorim remained a popular figure at Old Trafford, even if he had lost the support of those above him. Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.