Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been criticised by Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer for his recent behaviour on the sidelines while watching - or not - his struggling side
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim's actions on the touchline have been scrutinised(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have hit out at Ruben Amorim’s refusal to watch his Manchester United players take penalties.
In an eventful week, United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after losing a shootout to Grimsby on Wednesday before Bruno Fernandes sealed a 3-2 victory with his late spot kick against Burnley on Saturday. United have had a mixed start to the new campaign.
Amorim came under intense scrutiny following his side’s surprise cup exit, with the manager’s decision not to watch United’s penalties only adding fuel to the fire. The United boss twice saw his side squander the lead against Burnley at the weekend before Fernandes stepped up in the 97th minute.
However, Amorim’s behaviour in the dugout has been called out by Lineker and Shearer after he also refused to watch the winning goal at Old Trafford on Saturday. “I don’t think I’ve been particularly critical of Amorim because I think it’s a difficult job,” Lineker explained on The Rest Is Football podcast, reflecting on United’s defeat to Grimsby.
“I think the club’s in a bit of a pickle and it generally filters down from the top, as we’ve said many times, and I think he’s probably a very good coach. He’s probably come into a situation which he didn’t realise before he took the job.
“But, I have to say this, if you’re the manager or coach of a side and you hide in the dugout and not be prepared to watch your own players, some of them very young players, take penalties. I honestly… I mean, come on.
“This is the second or third round of the Carabao Cup for crying out loud! Do me a favour. That’s not leadership. Leadership is, you’ve got to stand up and be there for your players. I think that's really important."
Co-host Shearer agreed with Lineker as the Premier League legend added: “I thought that was a terrible look, him cowering away in the dugout, leaving some young players, some players that are making their first starts. Like everyone else, I thought it was an awful look for a manager to sit there hiding.”
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer
Lineker and Shearer have hit out at Amorim for his approach to penalties as United manager
Moving on to United’s recent victory over Burnley, Shearer continued: “He did the same yesterday. He wasn’t watching when Bruno was taking the penalty yesterday in the last minute. Slightly different, I guess.”
The win over Burnley means United have picked up four points from their opening three league games. In the transfer market, United are working on a deal for goalkeeper Senne Lammens, following Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana’s shaky starts to the season.
However, Lineker struggled to get over Amorim’s approach to penalties in United’s last two games. The former Match of the Day presenter stuck up for the manager after he was bizarrely mocked for using a tactics board during the Grimsby game, but believes Amorim is sending the wrong message to his players when it comes to penalties.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim sitting in a dugout with his coaching staff
Amorim was criticised for remaining in his dugout during United's penalty shootout loss to Grimsby
“I had no issue with the tactics board thing because they all have certain ways of doing the tactics, some notes and stuff,” Lineker said. “That was fine. I just think not watching your team take penalties, even if it’s a superstition… I mean, no. I’m sorry.”
Lineker also took aim at former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for his similar trait of not watching his team’s spot kicks. “I know Klopp sometimes didn’t watch penalties but I don’t get it,” Lineker admitted. “I’ll say the same about Klopp.
"I never really understood that because, well, it ain’t going to change it for a start. Also you need to see what your players are doing. It’s something that I can’t quite get my head around.”
When Premier League action resumes after the international break, Amorim’s side will travel to rivals Manchester City on Sunday 14 September. Pep Guardiola’s team have lost their last two league games to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton after a convincing win over Wolves on the opening weekend.
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