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Ruben Amorim's arrival at Manchester United has been nothing short of disastrous, but does the Portuguese tactician deserve time to turn things around?
Manchester United have just endured their worst league campaign in more than thirty years.
Fans were expectant after the club replaced Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim last November, but results have stayed largely the same and, in some cases, actually worse.
The Europa League defeat to Tottenham means there's no Champions League football next season, and of course, no revenue from that competition means less leeway to sign players. Amorim's points per game stands at 0.97, the worst in United's history.
So, how does one make a case that he deserves more time? Well, here are 5 reasons why we believe the United boss must be given time.
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08:15 - 22.05.2025
Why we lost Europa League final — Man Utd boss Amorim opens up
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has offered an explanation for his side's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Amorim inherited a struggling squad
Amorim took over a Manchester United side already in disarray, sitting 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from nine matches under Erik ten Hag.
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The squad was plagued by injuries, lacked depth, and wasn’t suited to his preferred 3-4-2-1 system.
He deserves the chance to fine-tune the squad to his taste, and then he can be judged accordingly.
Lack of a reliable goalscorer
Given the fact that Amorim arrived mid-season, the playing squad was already set, and one glaring issue was the lack of quality in forward areas.
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He has had to contend with the ineffectiveness of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, while relying on Bruno Fernandes to carry the creative and goalscoring burden.
The club hopes to address this problem by adding Wolves' forward Matheus Cunha this summer.
Track record of success
Amorim’s time at Sporting proves he’s a winner when given time. He transformed a struggling Sporting side, winning two Portuguese league titles and a domestic cup, despite working with a smaller budget than rivals like Benfica.
His ability to create a winning culture and track record of success shows he’s capable of building something sustainable, and INEOS must back him to achieve that.
Europa League run shows some promise
Despite the gutting 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final, United were unbeaten in Europe until that point, a stark contrast to their league form.
Their 3-0 semi-final first-leg win over Athletic Club at San Mames—a ground where few teams triumph—highlighted Amorim’s ability to get results against strong opposition when his tactics click.
He needs new signings
It is harsh to judge a manager without giving him the tools required to succeed. Amorim must be allowed to bring in the players suited to his system.
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There are areas of the squad that need strengthening, such as the centre-forward position, left-side of the defence and central midfield.
There is also a strong case to be made for changing the goalkeeper as Andre Onana's errors have played a big part in this season's abysmal results.
Amorim may very well not be the right man to lead United forward but he deserves at least a full pre-season and transfer window to mould the squad.
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