Was it right for MU to dismiss Ruben Amorim?

Perhaps the reason Ruben Amorim was fired lies in his straightforward and somewhat inflexible manner as the Portuguese manager. Amorim has unnecessarily complicated things. As a result, he now has to leave the club in a most disappointing way.

Was Amorim’s fault that he talked too much?

Amorim does talk a lot. Truly, very much, but MU hasn’t gained much from his words. After MU’s disappointing draw against Leeds, Amorim was like the "last straw" with some of the harshest comments rarely made by any coach about the club’s leadership, perhaps except Jose Mourinho in the past.

Amorim said: "I came here to be the manager, not just a coach. That’s very clear. I know my name can’t yet compare to Tuchel, Conte, or Mourinho, but I am the head coach of MU. Things will stay this way for the remaining 18 months [of the contract] or until the board changes their mind. That’s my stance. I want to end things here. I will not resign. I will do my job until someone replaces me.”

Then, the Portuguese strategist continued to emphasize: “I just want to say that I am the club’s manager. The contract ends in 18 months, and after that, everyone will move on. That’s the agreement. That’s my job. Every department, the scouting department, the board, must do their job well. I will do mine for 18 months and then we will talk again. Thank you all.”

Amorim’s statement on the evening of January 4th was followed by, his dismissal by MU on the afternoon of January 5th. It’s bitter for a coach invited to build and transform MU. He was highly expected but could not leave with dignity. Looking back, Manchester United has often changed managers under similar circumstances. Jose Mourinho left after press conferences filled with attacks. Ten Hag also stepped down amid a broken relationship with the top management.

History at Old Trafford reveals a harsh pattern. When a manager openly clashes with the executive structure, it is rarely the CEO or Sporting Director who leaves. The only safe figure until retirement was Sir Alex Ferguson. Amorim might be right to complain about authority and transfers, but even so, he should have chosen more tactful words to express his frustration and displeasure.

Certainly, Amorim understood what MU was like when he accepted the job in mid-2024/25 season. He must have known the club’s financial situation, right? It’s not that the board didn’t meet demands, but MU can’t be treated like PSG, Newcastle, Chelsea, or Man City. That’s impossible, at least until they fall into the hands of ultra-rich owners.

But....

According to internal sources at Manchester United, the decision to sack Ruben Amorim was not due to any power struggle or harsh remarks from the coach towards the board. This seems accurate because MU’s board understands Amorim and wouldn’t rashly spend £12 million to dismiss him at this time. Viewing it this way appears more reasonable.

British media report that MU’s leadership was forced to fire Amorim based on the club’s on-field performance. Although MU showed some progress, it was minimal and failed to meet expectations this season. This information from inside Manchester United aims to counter claims from some major newspapers that Amorim was sacked after losing a "power battle" related to transfer policies.

Manchester United emphasized that despite tensions over tactics and transfers (especially with sporting director Jason Wilcox), the main reason was the team’s results and progress under Amorim’s tenure.

Listen to the statement from the board after Amorim’s departure, simple yet full of implications: "With the club currently sixth in the Premier League standings, the board decided this is the right moment to make a change. This will give the team the best chance to achieve the highest possible position in the Premier League."

You might think the board is "covering" for each other and that MU’s announcement aims to ease pressure on senior members. This could be true or false. Some notable stats are as follows: In the 2025/26 season, MU is currently sixth but has won only 1 of their last 5 matches.

During his time at MU, Amorim secured only 24 wins in 63 matches across all competitions, a win rate of 38.71%. This is the worst record for a club manager in over half a century, since Frank O’Farrell, who was dismissed in 1971 with a slightly lower win percentage.

The decision to dismiss Amorim, though harsh, has been made, and now we wait to see what Darren Fletcher can achieve. According to the announcement, Darren Fletcher, former club midfielder and current youth team coach, will serve as interim manager. His first task is to stabilize the players’ mentality and morale. They won’t have much time as a match against Burnley is coming up.