Connect with us

Man Utd

United Back Amorim for Now as Pressure Builds Ahead of Sunderland Clash

United hierarchy remain publicly behind Ruben Amorim ahead of Sunderland despite mounting criticism.

Published

on

Manchester United are reported to be maintaining faith in Ruben Amorim despite growing calls for his dismissal. The club were beaten 3–1 by Brentford last weekend, and a defeat to newly promoted Sunderland, who have risen as high as fifth in the table this season, would increase scrutiny on the Portuguese manager.

Journalist Laurie Whitwell outlined the current thinking within United’s hierarchy on The Athletic’s Talk of the Devils podcast, describing sustained support from Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He said: “I think it’s a big match, I certainly think that Ruben Amorim needs a positive result. They beat to Sunderland, don’t they, who have been pretty good so far this season,” he said. “…from speaking to people that even if they lost to Sunderland, I don’t think it would be the end for Ruben Amorim.

“I think Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the ultimate decision maker on this really. He would take recommendations from Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, and the Glazers certainly have a voice on this as well, Joel Glazer in particular I’d imagine would have an opinion, but Ratcliffe is the one to decide really and I’m told [Ratcliffe] wants to give Amorim the full season.

“It’s a new squad, to a degree, and him trying to get his methods across even more, so we can debate whether that’s the right choice or not but that’s the current messaging from the very top with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.”

Advertisement

Much of the criticism of Amorim has centred on his use of the 3-4-2-1 formation. He has largely held to that system, reportedly warning club officials they would have to sack him if they wanted something different, though he admitted this week that he may need to be more flexible.

Defender Matthijs de Ligt has insisted the formation is not to blame, and summer signing Bryan Mbeumo has called on team-mates to shoulder more responsibility for poor displays, arguing the problems are not down to Amorim. There has been less sympathy from Wayne Rooney, who admitted he has “no faith” in Amorim to reverse the decline.

A range of potential successors has been mentioned in the media, with Xavi and Oliver Glasner among those linked to the job if it becomes available.

Advertisement

Man Utd

Šeško Nears Return as United Seek Cover During Busy Winter

Agent says Benjamin Šeško is close to returning after nearly a month out, offering relief to United.

Published

on

Benjamin Šeško, the 22-year-old summer signing, is close to returning from an injury that has kept him out for almost a month, his agent Elvis Basanovic has said. Basanovic told Arena Sport that the striker’s rehabilitation is progressing well and that a comeback could be only days away.

“Benjamin [Šeško] is feeling very good, his rehab is going as planned,” Basanovic said, via ESPN . “He’s really eager to return to the pitch, he misses playing.

“He’s missing games and he’s a bit impatient, so hopefully he’ll be back soon and be where he feels most comfortable. But I think we’ll see him very soon on the field, perhaps even sooner than it might seem at this moment.”

Šeško had been in the early phase of adjusting to the Premier League when the setback interrupted his momentum. His imminent availability comes at a timely moment for Manchester United, with fellow attacking summer signing Bryan Mbeumo bound to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations within the next week.

Advertisement

United face a congested winter programme and the return of Šeško would increase manager Amorim’s options during a demanding period on the calendar. Having another forward fit and ready would help the manager rotate and cope with absences across competitions.

Basanovic also urged patience while praising the manager who played a role in the transfer. “I must say he [Amorim] received Benjamin excellently,” Basanovic said. “I think Ruben first of all is an excellent person with fantastic charisma, extremely intelligent, emotionally intelligent and I think he knows what he’s doing.

“It’s not easy to build such a project that requires enormous knowledge and intelligence. United is one of the biggest clubs in the world , if not the biggest and people don’t understand you need time.

“He is a manager with his own vision to bring United to the top, but he definitely needs time.” The Portuguese manager has also asked fans to be patient after Šeško’s difficult start to life in England.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Man Utd

Amorim admits uncertainty over De Ligt after he misses matchday squad despite 4–1 win

Amorim confirms uncertainty over Matthijs de Ligt’s return after he missed the Wolves match. today.

Published

on

Manchester United secured a 4–1 victory over the Premier League’s bottom side, but the result was accompanied by fresh concern after centre back Matthijs de Ligt failed to make the matchday squad.

Manager Ruben Amorim had initially been optimistic about the injury suffered by the Dutch international, but that optimism appears to have been tempered by De Ligt’s absence from the Wolves fixture. Amorim selected two natural full backs, Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui, to operate in central defence alongside young Ayden Heaven. Lisandro Martínez, still getting back to full fitness, and Leny Yoro were named among the substitutes.

Asked for an update on De Ligt’s condition, Amorim refused to offer a timeline for a return. “I don’t know, sometimes you have an idea and then you have to see day by day,” Amorim conceded. “I am not going to say when he is coming back.” Those comments underline the uncertainty surrounding a player who was not available for selection on Monday.

United’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed briefly against Wolves, with the hosts — who have two points from 15 games this season — managing to score only their eighth goal of the campaign to level the match at 1–1 by half-time. It was not, however, an accurate reflection of United’s overall control of the game.

Advertisement

Amorim used his interval team talk to underline that point and praised his players for their reaction after the break. “I’m feeling good,” Amorim reflected. “I think we played well, most of the time. I think we disconnected a little bit after the first goal, that hurt us. But in the second half, everyone felt we were there to win the game and that was a good feeling.

“It’s really good that [fight in the second half], but we need to be concerned about how we concede a goal when we have full control of the game. We are so near to score a second goal to kill, a little bit, the game. But I’m pleased with the response after half-time.

“It was so clear we are dominating the games but not finishing the plays as we should do. We need to be better in the details. [I was] trying to explain to the players we have 45 minutes to win the three points that are crucial for our life.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Man Utd

United climb to sixth after convincing 4-1 win at Wolves

United 4-1 Wolves; Fernandes brace, Mbeumo and Mount scored. United level with Chelsea on points…

Published

on

Manchester United produced a commanding 4-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, a result that moves the visitors up to sixth in the Premier League table. Bruno Fernandes scored twice and was deeply involved in United’s attacking play, while Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount also found the net. Wolves’ goal came from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, the hosts’ first Premier League goal since October.

The match swung quickly. United took the lead when Matheus Cunha dispossessed André and set up Fernandes, who turned away from Emmanuel Agbadou to finish off an improvised move. Wolves responded in first-half stoppage time when a throw-in developed into a David Møller Wolfe delivery finished by Bellegarde.

United’s response after the interval was rapid. Luke Shaw won the ball inside his own half and United moved forward; Cunha played in behind to Diogo Dalot, whose cross found Mbeumo to restore the lead. Mount extended the advantage with a volley from a lofted through ball by Fernandes. The Portugal international completed the scoring from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute after Yerson Mosquera was penalised for handball.

United finished the match with a clear statistical advantage: 60 percent possession, 14 total shots and five on target, compared with Wolves’ 40 percent possession and three shots. The visitors created the better chances and controlled large portions of the game as they took the three points back to Manchester.

Advertisement

Individual performances were notable. Fernandes was the standout with a 9.4 rating, Mbeumo earned an 8.5, and Matheus Cunha registered 8.0 for his contributions in the build-up. Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot both received 7.9, Casemiro 7.3 and Mason Mount 7.4. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was given 6.9. Among substitutes, Lisandro Martínez was rated 6.5, Leny Yoro 6.6 and Kobbie Mainoo 6.1; Patrick Dorgu and Joshua Zirkzee were listed N/A.

The result leaves United level on points with fourth-place Chelsea ahead of their clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford next Monday.

Continue Reading

Trending