“NO! No, not at all.”
Lee Sharpe is emphatic when asked whether Manchester United should consider sacking Ruben Amorim if the Red Devils lose in tonight’s Europa League final in Bilbao.
United face off against Tottenham Hotspur – a side they have lost to already three times this season – at the Estadio de San Mames in an ‘All-English’ final which will make or break atrocious campaigns for both clubs.
Amorim’s side are currently languished in 16th in the Premier League; Ange Postecoglou’s men are one place worse in 17th. Neither team are yet to hit the 40 point mark which typically guarantees safety from relegation.
If the three promoted clubs – Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton – had mounted even semi-decent challenges to remain in England’s top division, United could have been facing the unimaginable prospect of a relegation battle this season.
But tonight’s final – which rewards the winner with automatic qualification into the Champions League and the vast array of financial benefits entry into Europe’s competition brings – offers the Reds a chance to forget an otherwise unforgettably bad campaign.
Should United lose and Spurs emerge victorious in Spain, the already considerable pressure being exerted on Amorim will reach fever pitch.
But Sharpe, speaking in an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person, courtesy of Coin Poker, is adamant the club must hold firm over the Portuguese’s future and “allow him time to rebuild,” regardless of what happens tonight.
“[Amorim has] not even started yet. I know this season has been abysmal, but you can’t sack someone who’s had the worse year ever and still got to a European cup final.
“If he doesn’t win [against Spurs] and get Champions League, you have to give him money to spend to rebuild, and allow him time on the training field. You can almost be thankful you’re not in the Champions League as it allows more time to train with the players.”
The Premier League winning winger believes Amorim cannot be judged until the end of next season, not this one. “He’s got to have all of next season. He’s got to have the summer window, the winter window and then reassess at the end of next season.”
INEOS are not believed to be entertaining the possibility of Amorim’s departure with more concerns amongst United’s hierarchy that the 40-year-old coach may choose to leave of his own volition. But the Portuguese has dismissed this idea with his full attention on tonight’s season-defining clash.
Amorim can just rest assured it will define only this season; not his future at Old Trafford.
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.
