Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly reached a decision regarding Ruben Amorim’s future following the team’s humiliating derby loss to Manchester City.
The Red Devils were swept aside 3-0 at the Etihad, with Phil Foden opening the scoring and Erling Haaland adding a brace for Pep Guardiola’s men. United never looked competitive, and the defeat leaves them languishing in 14th place with only four points from their first four league games, despite splashing over £230 million in the summer transfer market.
Big-money arrivals Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo were supposed to inject firepower into the side, but United’s frontline looked blunt once again. Šeško, in particular, came under fire for another ineffective outing, while the club slumped to their worst league start since 1992/93.
Amorim’s record has done little to reassure the fanbase, with just eight wins from 31 league games since he succeeded Erik ten Hag last November. Even so, the Portuguese coach has doubled down on his philosophy, declaring after the derby that he would not abandon his 3-4-2-1 system. “If they want it changed, you change the man,” he boldly stated, prompting fresh questions about his long-term future.
Despite growing unrest, reports suggest that Amorim still has the backing of United’s leadership. Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News claims the hierarchy remains supportive, and with Amorim contracted until 2027, there are currently no immediate plans to dismiss him. Nevertheless, insiders close to the manager have expressed surprise that his role is not under serious threat after such a disastrous run.
Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol has also reported that Ratcliffe is prepared to give Amorim more time, but warned that patience is not unlimited. Should results fail to improve and United find themselves slipping into a relegation scrap, Ratcliffe could be forced to act. As Solhekol noted, INEOS have already shown a willingness to make changes when necessary, just as they did last October when the team was similarly stuck in 14th.
