Paul Merson and Clinton Morrison unravelled their worries about Man United
The pundits deliberated over how Ruben Amorim's first week in charge has gone
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By YASEEN ZAMAN
Published: 14:06 EST, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 14:06 EST, 30 November 2024
Paul Merson and Clinton Morrison have revealed their biggest concerns about Ruben Amorim and Man United, after the Portuguese manager failed to hit the ground running in his first game.
United shared the points with Ipswich last Sunday, as Amorim's side drew 1-1 away at Portman Road, with goals from Marcus Rashford and Omari Hutchinson.
Merson highlighted Amorim's frustrations over his media responsibilities as a point of concern, after the new manager complained that he had more press commitments in a week at United than he did in four years at Sporting Lisbon.
'My biggest worry out of all of it was the interview after when he said: "That's it now, I've never done so many interviews. Now I've got to concentrate on the team",' Merson said.
'No, you're manager of one of the biggest teams in the world of football.
'You will do interviews when they ask you to do interviews and when you're told to do interviews.'
Ruben Amorim drew his first Premier League game as Man United manager 1-1 with Ipswich
Paul Merson has slammed Amorim's reluctance to fulfil his numerous media commitments
Clinton Morrison criticised the Red Devils' decision to back Erik ten Hag in the transfer window
The pundit continued by comparing Amorim's role at Sporting to United, implying that English media members will not be as supportive of him as those in Portugal.
'That was the one worry that I think he's got to cope with because when you're in Portuguese football, you'll do an interview here and there, and they'll win a lot,' he added.
'And you know, he'll have the press in the palm of his hand because he's winning every week, so they want a bit of him.
'Now he's got to keep them happy at the same time.'
Morrison bemoaned United's decision to hire Amorim in the middle of the season, after Erik ten Hag was given such a generous transfer budget over the summer.
United spent £180million on five new players in the Dutchman's last transfer window, only to relieve him of his duties at the end of October.
'Remember, [Amorim has] come in, he hasn't signed his players,' Morrison said.
'And the thing that does my head in with Man United is they could have made this appointment in the summer, and they let Ten Hag come in and buy his players in the summer.
The Dutchman was sacked at the end of October, as United languished 14th in the league table
'Now, Ruben Amorim has to come in and work with those players.'
The former Crystal Palace forward argued that the Red Devils should have made the brave call to sack Ten Hag at the end of last season, despite his FA Cup victory over Pep Guardiola and Man City.
'If they had brought Ruben Amorim in the summer, he could have bought his own players and they could have had a lot to work with,' he continued.
'So that's why I look at Man United and say, "Why didn't you make that decision earlier?"'