Amorim kept his neck off the chopping block, for now at least, when seeing United to a 2-0 victory over Sunderland in their final game before the latest international break. While that win has helped to raise collective spirits a little, it is just the 19th success enjoyed by the Red Devils under their current coaching team.
A win ratio of 38 per cent is considered to be well below par for a manager at Old Trafford, with United eager to push themselves back into contention for the most prestigious of honours. Rooney, as the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer, has suggested that he cannot see that happening any time soon.
He told The Wayne Rooney Show podcast when casting a critical eye over events in Manchester: “I just don’t know what’s going on. I have tried my hand in management and it didn’t work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I’m sure he still has a massive future, but what’s going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around and he does. But if you’re saying to me, ‘do you believe he will?’, then, after everything I’ve seen, honestly, I’ve got no faith in it.”
When quizzed on those comments, with Gary Neville another United legend who has asked uncomfortable questions of United and their tactical approach of late, Amorim said: “It’s normal, you can not run away from the results and then you have the baggage from last season. Last season, for me, it doesn’t matter. In relation of this season, we have already spoken about that. I am not saying this team will play better in a different system or not, that is not my point. My point is that if I look at the games we didn’t win, the most important thing when I watched the game was not that we lost because of the system. People have different opinions, that is ok.”
Rooney has now joined the discussion once more, adding on his podcast when reacting to the latest quotes from Amorim and his reluctance to consider a change in philosophy: “When I made them comments, it’s not something I really want to do, but I feel you have to tell the truth on it. And Ruben Amorim himself has been critical of the players. And, you know, it wasn’t long ago he was telling us it was the worst Man Utd team in the history of the club. And that’s him being honest, and if that’s his thoughts, that’s his thoughts. But for the players, they have to keep focused on what they’re doing and he’s the manager, listening to what he’s saying and tactically what he wants and try and win games.
“And that’s the only way it changes really. Unfortunately, I’ve been there as a player and, you know, being criticised as a player and you have to just try and focus on your job and try and win games. And you are at Manchester United – it’s still one of the biggest clubs in the world, so you have to expect to be criticised when you don’t win or don’t play well. And on the flip side to that, the benefits of playing well and winning games are huge.”
Amorim has a couple of weeks to work with players who are not heading off with their respective countries on international duty. He will hope to have United ready to claim back-to-back wins in the Premier League when they take in a testing trip to old adversaries Liverpool on October 19.
