Amorim’s Struggle: Less Ambition Than Antony and January’s Frustrations

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorim was appointed Manchester United manager in November.

Published: 17 February 2025 | Comments: 1570

When Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag in October, they were sitting 14th in the Premier League table and seven points away from both the top four and the relegation zone. Fast forward to March this year, and despite their efforts under new manager Ruben Amorim, the club remains firmly grounded at 15th place with a significant gap of 15 points from securing a Champions League spot and just 12 points above safety following an unfortunate 1-0 defeat against Tottenham C marking their eighth league loss during Amorim’s tenure.

Despite initial hopes, there has been no immediate improvement or ‘new manager bounce’ under Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim. The coach himself admitted to facing “a lot of problems” and emphasized the difficulty of his job, stating that managing Manchester United is particularly challenging at this stage.

Manchester United’s struggles in the Premier League are well-documented; however, just how extensive these challenges truly are under Ruben Amorim remains a subject of scrutiny. Some claim he was premature when describing their team as “the worst maybe in the history of Manchester United,” considering that his predecessor Erik ten Hag managed to keep them from relegation.

Indeed, in statistical terms, this season has marked an unprecedented low for Manchester United during the Premier League era. The club’s current tally stands at 29 points from 25 matches, placing it below every other team so far in the history of the league since its inception. They have suffered a staggering loss rate of 48%, dropping nine games out of their first quarter-season matchups.

Furthermore, Mounting injury problems have become another significant hindrance to Manchester United’s form under Amorim. Between his appointment and recent matches, several key players such as Patrick Dorgu (a January signing), Manuel Ugarte, Toby Collyer, Leny Yoro, Christian Eriksen among others were sidelined. These absences forced the manager to rely on an inexperienced squad against Tottenham.

Transfer window decisions made by Manchester United in January have also come under scrutiny. While Patrick Dorgu from Italian club Lecce and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal brought some balance to Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, other departures like Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia through loans weakened their squad.

With these challenges in mind, Manchester United now faces significant pressure not only on the pitch but also financially. The manager himself has already hinted at potential summer sales to make room for new signings as they look towards regaining a competitive edge in European competitions next season.