Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has slammed Ruben Amorim’s “negative” attitude at Manchester United, claiming the manager should be thinking more “positively” about his team despite recent results
Danny Murphy has criticised Ruben Amorim for his consistent negative attitude towards Manchester United. The ex-Liverpool midfielder believes the current United boss should be thinking with a “bit more positivity” and looking ahead to their Europa League final, instead of dwelling on poor results.
Results matches haven’t exactly been the best way to exude forward-thinking at Old Trafford, with United’s last Premier League win coming way back in March, with a 3-0 victory over now-relegated Leicester City.
Europe aside, the Red Devils are in dreadful form in recent history, just two places above the relegation zone and with the club about to land their lowest ever Premier League finish.
However, Murphy believes that Amorim could have a better attitude when talking about his team, especially considering their exploits outside of the league.
Speaking on Match of the Day, the ex-England international said: “I’m not a big fan of a manager continually and consistently talking negatively about how bad things are and how bad it is, how we’re the worst team, worst United team in the Premier League etc.
“I’d like to hear a bit more solution-based answers and a bit more positivity and moving forward and thinking forward.”
These comments from Murphy come after Amorim admitted he may have to step aside at Old Trafford if form doesn’t improve by next season. Post-match, the 40-year-old said: “Everybody here has to think seriously about a lot of things
“Everybody is thinking about the [Europa League] final. The final is not the issue. We have bigger things to think about. I’m talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to change that.
“It’s a decisive moment in the history of the club. We need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this. If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different people.”
Co-host Mark Chapman then directed the attention to United’s latest statistics, as he said: “When you look at that, it’s a bit difficult to be positive isn’t it?”
Prior to Erik ten Hag’s dismissal from Old Trafford, he had only suffered two home defeats all season. These were 3-0 losses to current champions Liverpool and fellow Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, under Amorim, United have faced home defeats against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Wolves and most recently, West Ham United.
Despite this, Murphy was adamant that the Portuguese boss has not faced a lot of criticism during his time, and believes his attitude must change soon.
He said: “Well, I’m not talking unrealistically, but well, just, you know, they have got a final to look forward to. They could be Champions League [next season], he’s got a, hopefully, got a summer of a lot of activity in the window to bring in some of his own players and start moulding his own team if you like.
“They’ve only had one signing since he’s been there, so he’s not faced a lot of criticism, I don’t think, considering how bad they’ve been.
“So yeah, I’ve always felt that the leader of the clubs I was at and the managers there, if they’re putting on a nice, positive front and trying to be forthright and looking forward, then it’ll help the players, rather than constant negativity.”
Next up for Amorim’s team is a visit to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in the penultimate game of the Premier League season, before an all-important clash with Spurs in a European final.
