Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis has claimed that he would have been successful at Manchester United had he been given the same level of financial backing as Ruben Amorim and Erik Ten Hag.
Amorim arrived at United in November 2024 after parting ways with Ten Hag, but they finished 15th last season in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to go without any European football this term.
United lost their opening fixture to Arsenal and drew at Fulham before crashing out of the Carabao Cup to League Two outfit Grimsby Town.
Grimsby Town v Manchester United - Carabao Cup Second Round
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That has put Amorim’s suitability for the United role under scrutiny, with just 18 wins from 46 games so far. In the Premier League, his eight wins from 30 games represents a paltry win rate of 26 per cent.
Tony Pulis says Manchester United struggles are ‘extraordinary’, says he would be successful at Old Trafford
Speaking on his new ‘The Managers’ podcast with Mick McCarthy, former Stoke and West Brom boss Tony Pulis claimed that he would have brought more success to United than they have experienced in recent seasons.
“I find it extraordinary the amount of money that Manchester United have spent and not been able to put a team together,” Pulis remarked. “And the managers that they’ve picked, they’ve been given the money, they’ve been given the opportunity.
“That’s all you want is backing. And with that backing, I would back myself to be successful if I’d have had the backing and the amount of money that the club have given
“The owners take a lot of stick and everything else about stuff that’s going on, [but] they’re not a club that hasn’t been backed financially.”
Tony Pulis questions Manchester United players’ desire under Ruben Amorim
Going further, Tony Pulis said the ‘talented’ players that United have signed in recent years have not shown enough spirit or desire to carry out their managers’ instructions.
Huddersfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday - Sky Bet Championship
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“I’m not having a go at Amorim,” Pulis began. “He’s got an identity. He wants to put an identity on the football club.
“What I’m saying is they [the players] have to understand that it’s Manchester United. And it’s even more important for Manchester United. They have to have players who are prepared to roll their sleeves up when they’re under pressure and things are tough and see it through.
“The one thing I’ve seen over the past few years, yes, they’ve brought in good footballers, but have they got that team and have they got that spirit and desire that that wins wins football matches?”