Ruben Amorim’s outburst left the Elland Road press room stunned – and he’s now fallen on his own sword after Manchester United sacked the 40-year-old on Monday
Ruben Amorim was the manager who said too much. And never more so than in the press room of Elland Road, in the wake of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
What is it about this stadium which makes certain individuals bare their souls? Just last month Mo Salah dropped the mic, when announcing he thought Liverpool and manager Arne Slot had thrown him under the bus.
And now Amorim has done something similar, which has cost him his job. There was no warning of what was to come when Amorim sat down to conduct his post-match media conference. He appeared satisfied with his side’s performance.
He threw his weight behind misfiring striker Benjamin Sesko, who had missed numerous chances to win the game for his team. And then it happened. Like a bolt from the blue, Amorim decided to unburden himself.
And his outburst left some seasoned journalists open-mouthed, with perplexed looks on their faces. There is a skill to getting a manager to say something beyond the blandness of describing what had happened in a game of football.
To get someone like Amorim to be as honest and candid as he dares to be. So full credit to those in the room. But no-one saw what was coming when Amorim was asked if he felt he was lacking certain assurances regarding his ability to manage United.
Resembling a man who had run out of patience with some of those in power at Old Trafford, the Portuguese couldn’t resist the chance to strike.
“I just want to say that I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach,” said Amorim. “And every department, the scouting department, the sporting director, needs to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we will watch.”
Cue utter bewilderment in the media suite. What was Amorim hoping to achieve? What was his point? Had he signed his own death warrant? Amorim was referring to sporting director Jason Wilcox.
I remember thinking to myself at the time, ‘Amorim has done a Maresca’. Time has proved me right, because Amorim has suffered the same fate as the former Chelsea manager.
Amorim had sparked an internal battle for control. He had singled out those responsible for player recruitment, and let it be known in no uncertain terms who unacceptable it was to be told he couldn’t make signings in this month’s transfer window.
He had taken possession of the Enzo Maresca playbook. And given United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe the perfect chance to sack Amorim, just like Chelsea did with Maresca, whose 18-month stint at Stamford Bridge came to an end of New Year’s Day following one verbal outburst too many against his club’s hierarchy.
The difference between the two is, that Amorim was not speaking from a position of power. In his 14 months in charge, he didn’t win a trophy and led United to their worst campaign of the Premier League era. No-one left Elland Road believing Amorim would be dismissed less than 24 hours later.
But everyone with a grasp of how fickle football can be, did so knowing Amorim was someone on the brink of losing patience with those who controlled him.
Unfortunately for him, Ratcliffe’s patience ran out first. And Leeds United, of all places, had helped a United manager dig his own grave.