If Ruben Amorim is to succeed at Manchester United then INEOS need to create the right environment they claimed is so important.
CEO Omar Berrada came out recently and said they want to be challenging for the Premier League title in the 2027-2028 season. That’s not an unrealistic expectation even if their squad doesn’t look anywhere near that yet.
But they have to now act like a club building to that. That includes dampening down the noise and pressure if they finish outside of the top six this term.
Because whether Amorim is the right choice or not – only time will tell on that following his official appointment on Friday – then he needs to be not only be given patience but the ability to coach without every game being life or death.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke about the right “environment” needing to be in place for any manager or head coach to succeed at United and that it hasn’t been in place since Sir Alex Ferguson left. But they still never created that for Erik ten Hag, despite their claims.
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That’s not to say he didn’t deserve the boot after such a nightmare start to the season because he can have no complaints he got his P45. He was backed financially and with time.
Ten Hag delivered two trophies which should not be scoffed at, but too few positive league results cost him. Yet the lack of communication around the manager’s position created this pressure cooker situation that the media – us included – cranked up after every loss.
Twice INEOS came out and backed Ten Hag with statements since they took charge of sporting operations. Once in the summer when they triggered an extension in his contract after openly speaking to other managers and before they got beat 3-0 by Liverpool in September.
(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The latter words from director of football Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada were already redundant before they were printed because they were spoken before they got thrashed at home by their rivals. Yet in the weeks since the silence was not deafening but instead created this noise that any loss was going to be disastrous for the future of the manager.
How can any players – no matter if they’re good enough for United or not – perform with that atmosphere around? If Amorim is to succeed – and that’s far from a guarantee – then he needs time and patience but also communication from those that are putting their trust in him.
Ratcliffe needs to realise that the ‘right environment’ is not just big-name DOFs, CEOs and a new training ground. It’s creating an atmosphere that a coach can blossom in and do what he does best.
The only way to do that? Wake up and realise that United are no longer a top-four team and make sure everyone knows what will be deemed success in each season from now until that target set by Berrada.
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Real Madrid have won everything there is to win in football over and over again.
So it was pathetic to see such a temper tantrum over their player not winning the Ballon d’Or. Let’s get it right, the award is nothing more than a popularity contest.
The greatest players are decided by the trophies and honours they’ve won with their teams and not individually. But it apparently means a lot to the players and congratulations to Rodri.
Real acted like petulant teenagers because Vinicius Jr didn’t get the gong. It was hardly controversial to give to a European Championship and Premier League winner, was it? Maybe a bit more class from a giant of the game is needed.
*Last week we said that Manchester City claimed to have beaten Manchester United’s long-standing unbeaten European record. We got it wrong.
It was OPTA and broadcasters posting the stat on social media for easy engagement and City were not claiming it. Still a nonsense claim from those who did put it out. They lost to Real on penalties so they’re not unbeaten for 26 games.
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