Ruben Amorim is nearing a year in charge of Manchester United, but it’s safe to say that his tenure up to now has been a huge disappointment for everyone involved.
The 40-year-old arrived from Sporting CP with huge excitement after his title triumph the year before, but such a feeling has certainly fizzled out over the last couple of months.
He’s only won 38% of the 47 games he’s been in charge of, resulting in the Red Devils finishing in an embarrassing 15th place in the Premier League – the lowest since the division’s formation in 1992.
Such form on the pitch has led to huge questions being asked about his long-term future at Old Trafford, potentially leaving the board with no choice if their dismal form continues in 2025/26.
Alongside his failures on the pitch, his decision-making off it has also been extremely controversial, with a situation surrounding one player being massively criticised by many people around the country.
Marcus Rashford’s United standoff with Amorim
Marcus Rashford is a player who came through the United academy system, making a huge impact in the first-team squad, racking up a total of 426 appearances for his boyhood side.
Upon Amorim’s appointment, the Englishman was utilised in the majority of the new manager’s matches – even scoring the first goal in his tenure against Ipswich Town.
However, the attacker rapidly fell down the pecking order, subsequently being left out of the first-team training and being forced to work with the youth squad before his temporary move to Aston Villa during the winter.
Rashford returned to his parent club during the off-season, but it rapidly became apparent that he would once again be left out of Amorim’s squad – joining Barcelona on loan with an option to buy.
He’s already started three times for Hansi Flick’s side and has wasted no time in demonstrating to the Red Devils boss the talent he still possesses despite his recent snub at Old Trafford.
The winger was handed a start in the Champions League last night, netting twice in a 2-1 win over Newcastle United, proving that he’s still more than capable of starring in Europe’s greatest competition.
However, moving Rashford out of the door at the Theatre of Dreams isn’t the only glaring error the manager has made at the helm – with his future needing to be questioned should such a situation carry on in the near future.
The Amorim decision which is a sackable offence at United
One of the main talking points over Amorim’s future is his current system, with his 3-4-2-1 formation evidently not having the desired effect, given the lowly league standing in 2024/25.
Most other managers would be open to the idea of shifting to another tactic to try and avenge the ongoing slump, but it appears that’s something the 40-year-old is unwilling to do.
He stated after the Manchester Derby defeat last weekend that he won’t be moving away from his current philosophy – even stating that the club would have to change the man before he changes his ideas.
The main issue that has arisen from such a system is the lack of quality and impact from the central midfield duo, often getting overrun and unable to deal with the threat posed by the opposition.
Kobbie Mainoo was a regular in the side during the 2023/24 campaign before Amorim took the reins last November, but since his arrival, the youngster has found minutes much harder to come by.
The 20-year-old has already been responsible for numerous high-profile moments despite his tender age, once looking like the next big talent to emerge out of the club’s infamous academy setup.
From last-minute winners against Wolverhampton Wanderers to FA Cup final goals against Manchester City – the midfielder really did manage to produce the goods in his breakout year.
However, his progress has undoubtedly stagnated since the former Sporting CP boss took the reins, only starting 20 league matches in 2024/25, with the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro ahead of him in the pecking order.
The new season has resulted in the same situation recurring, with the Englishman, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by Andy Townsend, only featuring for a total of 73 minutes in the Premier League to date.
Kobbie Mainoo – PL stats (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
25
Minutes played
1656
Pass accuracy
87%
Chances created
1.7
Successful dribbles
1.3
Tackles won
63%
Duels won
5.9
Interceptions made
1.2
Recoveries made
4.8
Stats via FotMob
It’s baffling to see such a promising young talent being alienated after his impressive start to life as a professional, with the players desperately needing game time to continue his development.
Mainoo’s lack of minutes in recent times led to the midfielder even requesting a temporary move away from the club – but it was swiftly rejected, further adding to the suffering he’s endured under Amorim.
Rashford’s success away from United is one thing, but the manager’s stubbornness to not utilise Mainoo could well prove to be the final nail in his coffin over the coming weeks.
It’s clear the boss isn’t getting the best out of the current crop of players at the club, which could see many others following Rashford out of the door to seek regular minutes and get their once exciting careers back on track.
