This is according to Paul Scholes as he claims that had Manchester United followed Ruben Amorim’s advice from the outset, they might have avoided their current predicament.

If Ruben Amorim’s original preference had been respected, he would still be in charge of Sporting CP, focusing on clinching a third league title as a fitting farewell before transitioning to Manchester United in the summer. However, events took a different turn.

At Old Trafford, Ruud van Nistelrooy might have remained as caretaker manager, offering continuity and familiarity for the players. His leadership could have propelled United toward a more respectable position in the Premier League. Instead, van Nistelrooy now finds himself fighting a relegation battle with Leicester City, while his former club faces even greater peril, teetering on the edge of relegation. Amorim’s mid-season arrival, coupled with a radical tactical overhaul, has deepened United’s woes rather than alleviating them.

Amorim had foreseen such difficulties. When Manchester United approached him in November to replace Erik ten Hag, he expressed a preference to delay the move until the end of the season. He cited his loyalty to Sporting and the strategic advantages of taking over during a summer transfer window. Despite his request, United pressed for an immediate appointment, leaving Amorim with a difficult choice: accept the offer or risk missing the opportunity altogether.

Reflecting on the decision, Amorim admitted that the circumstances left him with little time to deliberate. He explained, “I had three days to make a life-changing decision. I wanted to join after the season, but they made it clear it was now or never. If I said no, I knew I wouldn’t stay at Sporting for long either.”

This decision disrupted Amorim’s farewell season at Sporting, which could have been a crowning achievement. At the time, United’s urgency seemed a reflection of their ambition and decisiveness. However, hindsight suggests that retaining van Nistelrooy until the summer might have been the better approach. The former caretaker manager had introduced gradual changes while maintaining Ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 system, delivering more consistent results without drastically altering the team’s structure.

In contrast, Amorim’s sweeping changes have unsettled United’s squad, which appears ill-equipped to adapt to his methods. With five losses in six Premier League games, the team’s slim chances of European qualification have evaporated, and Amorim’s transition has become far more challenging than it might have been with a pre-season to prepare.

Sporting, too, has suffered since Amorim’s departure. Once dominant in their domestic league, they now cling to the top spot on goal difference. Joao Pereira, Amorim’s successor, struggled to stabilize the team and was dismissed after just eight games, following a dismal run of four defeats in five matches.

Although the start of a new year often brings optimism, a more patient approach might have served everyone better. Allowing Amorim to finish his season at Sporting could have benefited United, Sporting, van Nistelrooy, and Pereira alike. While United’s urgency in securing Amorim initially appeared justified, recent events suggest that patience might have yielded more positive outcomes for all involved.