Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim only joined the club in November, but is seemingly already running out of patience with the performances and the players at his disposal. In a move that is typically out of character for Amorim, the Portuguese reportedly damaged the giant screen television inside Manchester United’s dressing room, in a fit of fury following his side’s 1-3 loss at home against Brighton and Hove Albion. The result was United’s seventh loss in 15 games under Amorim, leaving them 13th in the Premier League table.

Following the defeat, Amorim had labelled the current United squad as the “worst in the history of the club”, and seemingly did not spare his players.

As per a report by British media outlet The Athletic, Amorim did not hold back his emotions after the loss, angrily letting his displeasure be known to the Manchester United players following his defeat.

In this process, the Portuguese manager reportedly damaged the giant screen television inside the United dressing room usually used to go through tactics before games. The screen will reportedly require fixing before United’s next game, against Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Amorim is reportedly a rather calm person, win or lose, and prefers to save his analysis of the match for the day after the game. Therefore, his rage after the 1-3 loss against Brighton came across as rather uncharacteristic.

The report also states that Amorim has previously said he is trying to shock his players and others at the club through his words, but results continue to be majorly disappointing.

Manchester United’s current squad have largely struggled to adapt to Amorim’s innovative 3-4-3 formation, with a 2-1 comeback win against Manchester City and a spirited 2-2 draw against league leaders Liverpool the only noteworthy positives.

However, the 39-year-old Amorim seemingly has the backing of club co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, with United looking for wing-back options in the January transfer window.

United stars Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have not played an integral part under Amorim, and are also apparently on the way out.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has expressed his desire to keep talented youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho despite rumours the duo could be sold to ease the club’s financial pressures. United sit 13th in the Premier League and have won only four of Amorim‘s 12 games in charge so far. The club’s ability to hand the former Sporting Lisbon coach, who took charge in November, significant funds to rebuild in the transfer market is limited by profit and sustainability rules. United lost 113.2 million pound ($139 million) in the financial year to June 2024 — their fifth straight year in the red.

As academy graduates, any fee received for Mainoo or Garnacho would appear on the books as 100 percent profit.

Reports this week said United were therefore open to offers for the pair, as well as a number of other recently acquired signings such as Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt.

“I really love my players. I want to keep my players, especially the talented ones,” Amorim said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Arsenal.

“It’s a special moment in this club, it’s a hard moment, but, of course, I’m really happy with Kobbie, he’s improving, and also with Garna.”

Amorim has previously admitted United’s recruitment must be better and he stressed the need to also improve the club’s academy to help save money in the transfer market.

“When we are targeting players, we need to be sure that they will cope with the demands,” he added.

“I also said we have to improve our academy, to bring young kids that fills the club in the right way, and also with that rules, we are able to do some business and have some money to invest in the team.

“Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players that we build for this club.

“We know the position that the club is in at the moment, but we will see. I’m very happy, I like our players, especially the guys from our academy.”

Another United academy graduate — Marcus Rashford — does seem set to leave Old Trafford this month.

The 27-year-old reportedly held talks with AC Milan this week, with other European clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, also interested.

Rashford has not featured in United’s last six games and Amorim refused to be drawn on whether he could return at the Emirates.

The Portuguese coach did confirm that second string goalkeeper Altay Bayindir will feature ahead of Andre Onana despite his errors in a 4-3 League Cup quarter-final exit to Tottenham last month.

Joshua Zirzkee (left) was substituted in the first half.© AFP

Ruben Amorim has told Marcus Rashford he should “speak with the manager” rather than air his grievances publicly after the Manchester United forward hinted he could leave Old Trafford. The 27-year-old was dropped by United boss Amorim for Sunday’s win at Manchester City and responded by saying he was “ready for a new challenge” in an interview on social media. Rashford came through United’s youth ranks and has chalked up 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2016.

However, he has lost form over the last 18 months with United and was also axed from England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Rashford has scored just 15 goals in 67 appearances since signing a lucrative new contract 18 months ago, with speculation over his future increasing in recent days.

The forward, who was absent from training on Monday through illness, is set to miss the League Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on Thursday.

Amorim is keen to keep Rashford but he admitted he would have handled the situation differently when he was a player.

“If this was me, probably I will speak with the manager,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“But, guys, let’s focus on Tottenham. Tottenham is the most important thing.”

Amorim revealed he has yet to speak to Rashford since the interview that threw his United future into doubt.

‘A little bit emotional’

“It’s hard to explain to you guys what I am going to do,” Amorim said. “I am a little bit emotional, so in the moment I will understand what to do.

“I am preparing the game and then we will see. Let’s focus on the team not individual players. That’s it.”

Amorim’s 14-minute press conference featured 16 different questions about Rashford.

It was an indication of the intense media scrutiny Amorim will have to get used to at United after arriving from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.

“It’s a hard situation to comment on,” he said. “If I give a lot of importance, it will have big headlines in the newspaper. 

“If I say it’s not a problem, then my standards are getting low. So, I will deal with that, I understand that. 

“My focus is not to take the attention from the game, from the team, what we did in the last game and put on Marcus.

“What I’m saying is that the team is more important than the individual. We will assess at the right time, let’s focus on the game. That’s all.”

Amorim is determined to concentrate on the Tottenham clash despite the focus on his controversial decision to axe Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho from the Manchester derby.

Unlike Rashford, Garnacho was pictured with the United squad heading to London for the quarter-final having reacted impressively to his exile.

“Really good, he trained really well,” Amorim said of Garnacho. “He seems a little bit upset with me and that is perfect.

“I was really, really happy because I will do the same in his position and he’s ready for this game.”

Manchester United took under 60 seconds for them to break the deadlock against Bodo/Glimt.© AFP

File image of Ruben Amorim© AFP

Ruben Amorim said Tuesday that “nothing is decided yet” after Manchester United made the Sporting Lisbon coach their top target to replace sacked manager Erik ten Hag. United pulled the plug on Ten Hag’s two-year reign on Monday after a 2-1 defeat by West Ham left one of the world’s wealthiest clubs 14th in the Premier League. Amorim quickly emerged as the leading contender to replace the Dutchman and a statement issued by Sporting to the Lisbon stock exchange said United were willing to meet his 10 million euro (8.3 million pounds, $10.8 million) release clause.

The 39-year-old was guarded when asked after Sporting’s League Cup win against Nacional on Tuesday night if that was his last match with the Portuguese club.

“Nobody knows whether this was my farewell match. Nothing is decided yet,” the Portuguese coach said, reported by sports daily A Bola.

Despite spending heavily in the transfer market in the summer, United have won one of their last eight games in all competitions.

Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been named interim boss but United appear to be concentrating on Amorim, who is considered one of Europe’s leading young coaches.

He has won two Portuguese titles with Sporting since joining the club in March 2020.

Amorim had dismissed the speculation when quizzed on Monday ahead of the League Cup match.

“I’m not going to talk about my future,” he said. “I’m very proud to be the coach of Sporting Lisbon.”

‘Incredible football’

Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler, a young manager already making his way in the Premier League, was asked Tuesday what advice he’d give Amorim should he leave Portugal for Old Trafford. 

“Thirty-nine and he’s eight years older than me,” said Hurzeler. “He’s already achieved great things in Portugal. I’ve seen some games of him, he plays incredible football.”

Amorim was linked with the manager’s role at Liverpool following the departure of Jurgen Klopp this year, but Dutch coach Arne Slot headed to Anfield instead.

The position of Ten Hag, 54, had been repeatedly called into question after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who made overtures to other managers, retained him following an internal review at the end of last season when the club finished eighth in the league but won the FA Cup with a shock victory over Manchester City.

But United, who last won the Premier League in 2013, have shown little improvement this season.

The former Ajax coach, who joined United in May 2022, had fiercely defended his record, arguing he deserved respect for winning two trophies in his two full seasons.

United ended a six-year wait for silverware by beating Newcastle in the 2023 League Cup final.

However, in his second season, injuries to key players, the lack of impact from expensive signings such as Brazilian Antony and Ten Hag’s failure to implement a clear playing style put him on the road to failure.

United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage and suffered a string of defeats at Old Trafford last season.

Ten Hag was backed in the transfer market, spending more than 600 million pounds ($778 million) — nearly half of which went on former Ajax players.

Yet early hope this season evaporated as Liverpool and Tottenham both won with ease at Old Trafford in September.

In truth, Ten Hag oversaw just a small period of United’s more general decline since legendary former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after the club were crowned champions of England for a record 20th time.

Five full-time managers have come and gone since then.

Speaking post-match on Sunday to preview United’s League Cup tie against Leicester on Wednesday, Ten Hag indicated he thought winning a trophy in his third season would make it a success.

“Definitely, it’s about trophies,” he replied in comments which were embargoed until Tuesday. 

“If you win a trophy in pro football, that is most important because that is what the fans expect and what we expect, to win a trophy.”

Manchester United are reportedly in talks with Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim to become their next manager after sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday following a disastrous start to the season. Time finally ran out for Dutchman Ten Hag with United sitting a lowly 14th in the Premier League table after they suffered a fourth defeat in nine league games at West Ham on Sunday. Despite substantial dealings in the transfer market before this season, one of the world’s wealthiest clubs have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions.

Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, a member of Ten Hag’s coaching staff, was named interim boss.

According to multiple British media reports, United want to turn to Amorim, the 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon manager who is considered one of Europe’s leading young coaches.

Sky Sports reported United had held discussions with Amorim and are prepared to pay his release clause.

Amorim was linked with the manager’s role at Liverpool following the departure of Jurgen Klopp this year, but Dutch coach Arne Slot headed to Anfield instead.

The position of Ten Hag, 54, had been repeatedly called into question after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe retained him following an internal review at the end of last season when the club finished eighth in the league but won the FA Cup with a shock victory over Manchester City.

Ten Hag was even rewarded with a one-year contract extension to June 2026.

But United have shown little improvement this season and the 2-1 loss at West Ham was the final straw.

A club statement said: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.”

Defended his record

United said Van Nistelrooy would take over on a temporary basis.

Former Ajax coach Ten Hag, who joined United in May 2022, had fiercely defended his record in recent weeks after winning two trophies in his two full seasons in charge.

United ended a six-year wait for silverware by beating Newcastle in the 2023 League Cup final.

The Red Devils also reached the FA Cup final and finished third in the Premier League in an encouraging debut season for Ten Hag.

However, the wheels came off in his second season as injuries to key players, the lack of a meaningful impact from expensive signings like Brazilian forward Antony and Ten Hag’s failure to implement a clear playing style led to a number of embarrassing results.

United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage, while Bournemouth, Brighton and Fulham were among the other teams to win at Old Trafford in the 2023/2024 campaign.

The implementation of a new sporting structure at United, spearheaded by Ratcliffe, saw widespread change over recent months off the field.

But Ten Hag’s surprise victory over Pep Guardiola’s City in the FA Cup final led to him receiving a stay of execution.

He was further backed in the transfer market with the signings of Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, taking the total spent in his reign to over 600 million pounds ($778 million), nearly half of which went on former Ajax players.

Yet early hope this season evaporated as Liverpool and Tottenham coasted to 3-0 wins at Old Trafford in September.

‘Unacceptable’

Former United captain Gary Neville said Ten Hag had paid the price for an “unacceptable” league position.

“The big shock for me is how bad they’ve been with the new signings that have come in,” Neville told Sky Sports.

He added: “The fact that they are 14th is unacceptable. You can’t be in 14th after nine or 10 games with the level of spend that’s occurred without being under significant pressure — and that’s what’s happened.”

Ex-England striker Alan Shearer said Ten Hag had been “a dead man walking” as soon as it was revealed United had talked to other potential managers in the summer.

For all Ten Hag’s faults, he oversaw just a small period of United’s more general decline since legendary former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Since the Scot’s departure, five permanent managers have now been dismissed without United even challenging for the Premier League title — a trophy they won 13 times under Ferguson.

Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres’ goals have powered Sporting’s title success.© AFP