Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United manager has been off to a challenging start, with the Portuguese coach winning just seven of his first 17 games in charge.
His record includes seven losses and three draws, which has left many fans and pundits questioning his impact so far at Old Trafford. Amorim’s 18th match in charge came in the UEFA Europa League against FCSB, where United’s form was under scrutiny once again. Ahead of the match, TNT Sports pundits Owen Hargreaves and Robbie Savage were asked to rate Amorim’s performance at United out of 10, offering low scores that reflected the struggles of his early months.
Hargreaves was quick to give Amorim a harsh rating of just “four, max,” highlighting that the results have not been as expected. Despite a notable away win over Manchester City in the Premier League and a penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup, the overall performance under Amorim has fallen short of expectations. Savage followed with an even more critical assessment, giving Amorim a score of three. While he acknowledged the victories in high-profile matches, Savage focused on the number of disappointing results that have accumulated during Amorim’s early reign.
The comments from Hargreaves and Savage came as a surprise, especially given that Amorim has managed to achieve some positive results, including the aforementioned victories over City and Arsenal. However, the former United and Blackburn players seemed to emphasize that these wins were overshadowed by United’s inconsistency in other matches. Savage’s rating of three suggests frustration with the team’s overall form, despite the occasional high-point moments that hinted at the manager’s potential.
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Presenter Jules Breach, clearly taken aback by the low ratings, responded with shock, calling the critiques “harsh” before handing the broadcast over to TNT co-presenter Matt Smith. The comments sparked a reaction from Smith, who was joined by former Chelsea and Liverpool winger Joe Cole. Smith expressed his disbelief at the scores, with both pundits visibly stunned by the low marks. Cole, typically one to offer nuanced views, also appeared taken aback by the severity of the assessment.
Amorim took over as Manchester United manager in November after a highly successful stint with Sporting Lisbon, where he won 164 of his 231 games, boasting a remarkable win rate of 71%. His impressive achievements in Portugal had raised expectations for his arrival at United, but so far, his time at the helm has been filled with challenges. The team’s inconsistency has drawn criticism, and many feel the early results fall short of the club’s ambitions.
With the scoreline in mind, the pressure on Amorim will only intensify as Manchester United look to improve under his leadership. His future at the club may well depend on how quickly he can turn things around, with the squad still searching for the stability and form that many expected upon his appointment. While the highs, such as the victories over Manchester City and Arsenal, provide a glimmer of hope, it’s the overall performance that needs to improve if Amorim is to silence the critics and prove he can succeed at one of the world’s biggest football clubs.
