After a tense 1-1 draw with Leeds United, Ruben Amorim delivered a fiery press conference criticizing the club’s structure and hinting at limited influence over transfers. This outburst proved to be the final straw, leading to his dismissal just hours later on Monday morning.
Gary Lineker analyzed the situation on his podcast, suggesting Amorim was subtly signaling his frustration with a lack of control in recruitment and insufficient backing from superiors. Lineker compared it to similar remarks made by other managers recently.
Lineker and Shearer react to Amorim’s statements
Lineker described the press conference as unusual, interpreting it as Amorim positioning himself as merely coaching the team without real authority on player signings or broader support. He viewed it as a public message about the constraints on his role.
Alan Shearer concurred with Jamie Carragher’s assessment, arguing that given the team’s underwhelming performances since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November 2024, the Portuguese coach lacked the credentials to voice such complaints publicly. Shearer emphasized the poor results record as insufficient justification for criticism of club departments.
Amorim’s key remarks and immediate dismissal
In his post-match comments at Elland Road, Amorim stressed multiple times that he joined Manchester United to act as full manager, not just head coach. He demanded better performance from the scouting team and sporting director, while stating his tenure would last 18 months until the contract ends, after which all parties would part ways.
He refused to resign, vowing to fulfill his duties until replaced. However, the remarks strained relations further with figures like director of football Jason Wilcox, prompting the board to act swiftly and terminate his 14-month spell. Darren Fletcher was appointed interim ahead of upcoming fixtures.
