Ruben Amorim wanted to replace Erik ten Hag at Man United last October but he admitted that the timing was not ideal.
Now or never was the message when Manchester United came knocking on Ruben Amorim’s door last October.
After making the decision to sack Erik ten Hag less than 24 hours after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium, United earmarked Amorim as their top target to replace the Dutchman at Old Trafford.
United moved swiftly to get a deal in place, paying €10million (£8.3m) to trigger his Sporting Lisbon release clause.
Amorim had put Sporting back on the map, winning two Primeira Liga titles in three seasons after the club previously gone 19 years without being top dog in Portugal. Sporting’s style of play was also attractive to United, with club bosses hopeful he would be able to revolutionise the Reds’ fortunes with a new-look style.
However, Amorim was hesitant about making the move there and then, informing United that he wanted to wait until the summer to become United’s next permanent head coach. He had already informed Sporting of his plan to leave the club at the end of the season.
United, though, were not willing to take no for an answer and Amorim had to make a life-changing decision there and then.
“The season started, we started very well, and then Manchester United came, they pay above the compensation clause and the president defends the club’s interests,” Amorim explained back in November.
“I never discussed anything with the president. For three days I said I wanted to stay until the end of the season, but then I was told it was not possible.
“It was now or never, or Manchester would go for another option. So, I had three days to make my mind up, to make a decision that changes radically my life.”
On reflection, it is easy to understand why Amorim wanted to take charge at United ahead of the start of a new season, getting the opportunity to oversee a full pre-season and start afresh. Instead, he has overseen 14 defeats in his first 39 games in charge.
He said in February: “When you start a season it’s completely different [how] you feel things, have pre-season and time to change things you feel are necessary in a team and a squad, that is clear.
“That was the choice so I don’t want to talk about that. I had my reasons to ask for it and I have the most important reasons to accept the job. I knew it would be tough and a risk but it’s Manchester United and you can’t say no.”
Of course, the fact Amorim has led United to the Europa League final cannot be ignored, and nor should it. He deserves credit for leading the club to their first European final since 2021.
However, if they are on the losing side against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao next week, it will count for nothing. Their Premier League campaign has been nothing short of embarrassing, with the defeat to West Ham leaving them 16th in the table with two games to go.
Defeats to Chelsea and Aston Villa either side of the final would see United end their Premier League campaign having lost half of their 38 matches. For a club of United’s size, there is no escaping that.
Amorim inherited an expensively-assembled squad in November, still fresh from five new additions being added to it last summer, but its profile, as the last few months have highlighted countless times, is not wedded to Amorim’s philosophy.
Only come the summer transfer window will Amorim get the chance to make just some of the necessary changes. It will be impossible for every change that needs to happen to take place in one window.
It is unfair to judge Amorim until he has had a meaningful opportunity to build his own squad, with only Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven being signed since he was appointed, but he is not a position where he is immune from criticism.
He has won just 24 points from 25 Premier League games in charge, with ten of them being amassed against the three relegated clubs, highlighting just how poor United’s league form has been in recent months.
It was clear from his initial hesitation about taking the job mid-season that he was conscious the timing wasn’t right for him to come in and make an immediate impact, referencing the importance of pre-season. He will get the opportunity.
