What went wrong for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?

Photo: Manchester United

Ruben Amorim's time at Manchester United is over, and while the timing of his dismissal may shock many, given the fact United are right below the UEFA Champions League spots and the sheer lack of faith previously shown in him, the reality is that the writing had been on the wall for months.

When Amorim first arrived at Old Trafford, he did so with a growing reputation as one of Europe's brightest tactical minds and one of the most promising managers. His team at Sporting CP was brave and relentless. United fans hoped that after years of mismanagement, overspending and drama, he would finally be the coach to impose a modern identity on a club that had been drifting since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.

Instead, his reign has become another chapter in United's post-Sir Alex chaos.

This is not to say that everything went wrong. Amorim was perfect in challenging entitled players who were overpaid and used his authority as head coach well. He also helped develop and improve a number of players, such as Amad, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and several others.

But it was ultimately not enough for the hierarchy to give him more time.

So what actually went wrong?

1) A system that never truly fit

Amorim was brought in with the idea that he would bring a fresh approach with a totally new system. A play style that would basically revitalise United.

The Portuguese coach was fully committed to his preferred 3-4-3 system that worked wonders at Sporting. His commitment to the system was admirable, but ultimately damaging. At Sporting, the structure worked because the squad was built for it. At United, he was working towards it, but did not get enough time to fully implement it.

United lacked natural wingbacks that were capable of performing both defensively and offensively at the intensity that the Premier League requires. The midfield frequently looked outnumbered and exposed, with United not having the energetic midfielders required. This is all while defensive transitions seemed utterly chaotic, particularly against teams that were willing to sit back and hit United on the counter.

Amorim tried to get players in that would fit this system, and he utilised others that were already at the club to do so, with Amad particularly coming to mind in this regard. However, the shape would ultimately lead to his downfall.

Rather than adapting his shape to the players at his disposal, he stuck to it and wanted to push forward with it. Over time, opposition teams adapted and started to find gaps that they could exploit, making United predictable and fragile.

It is important to note that prior to his appointment, Amorim had made it clear that he would prefer to take the job in the summer so that they can bring in the players that he would want for his system. He ended up taking the job due to the hierarchy saying that it would be now or never, and it would be a damning mistake.

After his dismissal, reports have emerged that Amorim and Jason Wilcox had discussions about changing the formation prior to the Wolves draw, especially after the Newcastle United win. Amorim reverted to his 3-4-3 again, which left the hierarchy furious.

2) Results simply weren't good enough

At the end of the day, as United manager, you live and die by results - and Amorim's were poor, very poor.

His first few months were characterised by a historically low Premier League finish and a UEFA Europa League campaign that ended with a damaging final defeat to Tottenham. There were signs of improvement this season, as highlighted by United's drastic change in league position, but performances remained extremely inconsistent.

Even when United won, it rarely felt so convincing. There was no sense of momentum, no belief that the team was building towards something bigger and sustainable. This was highlighted by the fact that it took Amorim almost a whole year to get their first back-to-back Premier League wins.

Photo: Manchester United

3) A lack of clear identity

Amorim was ultimately brought in to bring a clear identity to United. Did that happen? Not really.

United were sometimes a pressing team, sometimes a possession-dominant side, and on other times - especially when forced - a counter-attacking outfit.

United, possibly due to the players that Amorim had at his disposal, often looked caught between different ideas. One thing for sure is that players seemed hesitant in possession and vulnerable without it.

This lack of a clear identity seeped into the fanbase, with fans being frustrated and the media scrutinising the team, continuing to pile the pressure on Amorim.

4) Tension behind the scenes

Ultimately, the most decisive factor in Amorim's downfall was what happened away from the pitch.

Public comments about lacking control over recruitment, particularly highlighting how he is a manager, not a head coach, raised eyebrows over the week. Amorim wanted to have some authority over decisions, but United's football structure did not allow him to do so. Those comments immediately suggested that the relationship between Amorim and Wilcox, which had been so amicable in previous months, was severely under strain.

Amorim stated that he would see out his contract at the club and then see what happens, unless the board opted for a different decision. The club eventually decided against keeping him.

The worrying thing is that United tried to hide the friction in the relationship through their dismissal announcement. Instead of flat out saying that it was due to a breakdown in the relationship, United said that the decision to sack Amorim was made to "give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish," a particularly strange statement when it was clear that Amorim and Wilcox had fallen out. It is made even stranger by the fact that United are so close to the top four.

Whenever a manager starts publicly questioning the club's direction, it often spells the beginning of the end. United's leadership clearly felt that the relationship had become unsustainable.

5) A familiar United story

Amorim's sacking feels depressingly familiar. Another promising coach arrives. Another vision fails to fully materialise. United return back to square on.

While that does not absolve Amorim for some of the responsibility, it also reinforces the wider truth that Manchester United remains one of the most difficult clubs in world football to manage.

Expectations are sky-high, media and fan pressure is through the roof, yet patience is minimal. It became increasingly clear towards Amorim in the change in his approach, as while in the past he was seemingly ready to be patient, he then wanted signings in as soon as possible, knowing he may not end up seeing out the full project.

What next for Manchester United?

With Amorim gone, United have once again found themselves at a crossroads, a place that has become all too familiar over the past decade.

In the short-term, stability matters the most. Darren Fletcher will serve as interim coach for the Burnley game, and it remains to be seen what happens afterwards. Will United stick with Fletcher? Will they opt for a caretaker until the end of the season? Or will they get a permanent manager before then?

Beyond the dugout, the focus has to shift to alignment. United, especially under INEOS, cannot afford another appointment where the manager's philosophy clashes with the whole structure. United also need to shift their own direction to allow a manager to flourish, not needing someone to simply be a yes-man.

There is also a hard truth that United must confront: this squad still needs reshaping, not just patching. Several players are entering make-or-break periods of their United careers. Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and many others have uncertain futures ahead of them. United simply need to get their futures sorted out.

Most importantly, the club needs to be patient. Constant resets have now become part of United's identity, with each one setting the club further back than ever before. If United are really serious about long-term success, then the next appointment simply cannot be about optics, it must be the right fit. The hierarchy has already got a number of huge decisions wrong, particularly giving Erik ten Hag more time - before eventually sacking him just months later -, appointing Dan Ashworth - before realising he was not the right fit and firing him -, and then hiring Ruben Amorim - who they then sacked months later -.

Amorim's departure from the club should be a moment of reflection for the board. Until the environment around the manager is sorted out, United will not recover.