This is according to Ruben Amorim as a recent admission from his sheds light on a significant error made by Ineos during the month of September, a decision that Manchester United is now feeling the repercussions of.

When a club changes its manager during the season, it’s often a clear indication of deep-rooted problems, and that was certainly the case for Ineos and Manchester United. The 2023/24 campaign proved disastrous for United, with the team finishing eighth in the Premier League. However, Erik ten Hag managed to clinch a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, a result that likely delayed his departure from the club.

After the season ended, Ineos took charge of overhauling the club’s sporting operations. This effort quickly unraveled with the exit of Dan Ashworth, leaving many to question whether the restructuring was focused on the right priorities. Ultimately, Ten Hag was dismissed at the end of October, marking the end of a turbulent era.

Despite heavy spending in the summer transfer window, it became increasingly clear that Ten Hag was struggling, and many felt his exit should have occurred much earlier. Instead, the club waited until October 28 to part ways with him, and it took an additional three weeks before Ruben Amorim was officially installed as his successor.

Ahead of the Manchester Derby, Amorim opened up about the challenges he faced in his early days at the club. Speaking to Sky Sports, he revealed that over 20 days, he had only three full training sessions with the entire squad, making it difficult to implement his tactical vision. These challenges underscore his earlier calls for patience, as the start to his tenure was anything but smooth.

Reflecting on the sequence of events, it becomes evident that replacing Ten Hag sooner would have been the wiser move. The embarrassing 3-0 loss to Tottenham in late September, considered one of United’s worst performances in decades, was a clear signal of trouble. An earlier managerial change could have given Amorim the time he needed to integrate his ideas and better prepare the squad for the demanding fixtures of December.