Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United is off to a rocky start, with growing concerns that he may already be contemplating walking away from Old Trafford.
The Portuguese manager arrived with high expectations after replacing Erik ten Hag, but his impact has been underwhelming. Despite implementing a 3-4-2-1 system, United remain stagnant, showing no signs of progress in the Premier League standings. His record so far—eight wins and eight defeats in 19 matches—has done little to convince fans or pundits that he is the right man for the job.
Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace marked yet another grim milestone for Amorim, making him the fastest United manager to reach five defeats in the club’s history. The performance once again exposed United’s inability to take the game to the opposition, a recurring issue under the new boss. The team appears comfortable sitting back, but when required to dictate play, they struggle. With seven home losses already this season, frustration is mounting within the club and among its supporters.
Criticism of Amorim has been relentless, with former Sky Sports host Richard Keys being one of his most vocal detractors. In his latest blog, Keys questioned the manager’s tactical decisions, particularly his choice to play Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine while leaving Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee on the bench. Describing Amorim as “out of his depth,” Keys suggested the United boss needs to adapt quickly if he wants to keep his job—if he even wants to stay at all. His remarks have only fueled speculation that Amorim may already be considering his future.
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Amorim’s media approach has also raised eyebrows. His controversial comment labeling his squad as the “worst Man Utd side in history” created a storm, with critics accusing him of undermining his players. While he later apologized, the damage had been done. The fallout was so severe that it left pundits in disbelief, with Jamie Carragher notably reacting to Amorim’s words with astonishment. His handling of Marcus Rashford, who was loaned out to Aston Villa under acrimonious circumstances, has also been cited as another major misstep.
Further transfer decisions have only added to the chaos. United’s failure to reinforce their attack in the final hours of the transfer window, including their abrupt withdrawal from the Mathys Tel deal, has left Amorim with limited forward options. His decision to bench both Zirkzee and Hojlund against Palace raised further questions, as Alan Shearer pointed out that such moves could damage the confidence of both strikers. United’s striker dilemma continues to grow, and with West Ham monitoring Hojlund’s situation, the Danish forward could become a transfer target this summer if Amorim does not integrate him more effectively.
Meanwhile, United’s recruitment plans remain uncertain, with the club keeping a close eye on emerging talents like Chris Rigg and Marc Guehi. But while INEOS is reportedly involved in scouting future stars, the present remains a crisis for Amorim. With results failing to improve and pressure intensifying, the question now is not just whether he can turn things around—but whether he even wants to stick around to try.
