“Whereas with Amorim…“: Rio Ferdinand explains why Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s sack decision logic is wrong

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has strongly disagreed with Sir Jim Ratcliffe over recent remarks he made about Ruben Amorim.

Ratcliffe’s Amorim claim

Amorim relieved some of the pressure that was mounting on his shoulders with the 2-0 win over Sunderland just before the October international break.

However, before the victory, the Portuguese coach was firmly in the spotlight as serious questions were asked of his long-term suitability to United.

Following the 3-1 hammering at the hands of Brentford, there were calls from some sections of the fanbase and the media for Ratcliffe and the football leadership group to act quickly and part ways with Amorim. United have had a patchy start to the 2025/26 season and currently occupy 10th place in the Premier League table.

There were suggestions that United were considering the likes of Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, Gareth Southgate and Michael Carrick (on an interim) as potential replacements for Amorim.

However, Ratcliffe quashed all speculation, publicly declaring his support for Amorim.

The INEOS billionaire insisted that Amorim will be afforded at least three years to try and turn things around at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe drew parallels between Amorim and Mikel Arteta’s early struggles at Arsenal to illustrate his point.

However, Ferdinand believes there are minimal similarities between Amorim’s situation and the challenges Arteta faced at the start of his Arsenal tenure.

Ferdinand disputes Ratcliffe’s claim

Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Ferdinand explained, “You know what, I just like to hear the people that are in the driving seat of a football club come out and speak. That’s what I like about Jim Ratcliffe.”

“I think he obviously went on to a podcast to speak about something totally different, but obviously, that podcast isn’t going to allow him to come on and not ask him about Man United. So, it’s just refreshing that somebody in his position actually talks.”

Ferdinand continued, “Now, do I agree exactly with what he said? “I understand the sentiment – if you go through the facts, I don’t think it’s the right person to draw a comparison with. You look at Arteta – there are similarities in some of the stats.”

“The big one is that he improved the team from 10th to finish eighth in his first year. Amorim took his team from 14th to finish 15th. There was also flexibility in the way Arteta had his team.”

“I think he had about seven different formations in his first 50 matches, just trying things out. The improvement line would have been a bit more consistent, and you go, ‘I can see it happening’. Whereas with Amorim, you look at him and there isn’t as much consistency or positives that are coming out of it that you’re going, ‘oh, I can actually see it clearly, it’s hitting me between my eyes, I couldn’t let this guy go’.”

“I think right now, we’re at a stage with United and Amorim, [where] I just want to see that consistency of some results coming through, performance alongside that, and an idea that you go, ‘oh, I can see this training ground stuff really paying off’.”

“The consistency with all of those three different elements isn’t there right now, and I’m hoping he can get that right.”

United are back in action on Sunday when they take on Liverpool at Anfield.

Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images

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