Ruben Amorim is under mounting pressure as Manchester United manager after his side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the derby on Sunday
Ruben Amorim, manager of Manchester United looks dejected
Ruben Amorim is under increasing pressure(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney has warned under-fire Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim time is running out for him to turn the team around.
United's humiliating 3-0 derby defeat at local rivals Manchester City increased the pressure on Amorim, who has won just eight of his 31 Premier League games in charge. Although United insist Amorim retains the backing of the club hierarchy, the team's next three games, against Chelsea, Brentford and Sunderland, will ultimately decide his fate.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, former England manager Gareth Southgate and USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino are among the candidates to succeed Amorim, should he go. United legend Rooney painted a bleak picture for Amorim in the wake of Sunday's derby debacle and suggested there was little evidence of the Portuguese head coach salvaging the situation.
“It's hard to see how it continues,” said Rooney. “I don’t think anyone can understand and comprehend what's going on. Frankly, it's not good enough. I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be on the manager and the players.
"But it's very difficult to sit here and say we're seeing progression and at least we're seeing things that will get results in the near future. We're seeing none of that and it's very difficult. There was an image towards the end of the game where I saw the Manchester United fans leaving.
“I think that's so powerful that the United fans were leaving the game. You know the game is over and I think they were very disappointed in what they were seeing. What are the patterns? What are we seeing that might improve the team moving forward?
"I think after last year, when Erik ten Hag got sacked and Ruben came in, we're hearing how they're going to play and it is going to change. I think if the manager is honest with himself, it's got worse."
Wayne Rooney speaks on The Wayne Rooney Show
Wayne Rooney has questioned Ruben Amorim's job at Manchester United
Rooney, who watched the derby in Korea with fellow former United stars after playing an exhibition match, added: “We want to support the team and the manager the best we can, but we also have to be honest, as the fans are not fools.
“We have to give our honest opinion on what we’re seeing and that puts us in uncomfortable positions at times. Rio Ferdinand was out with the team in Chicago pre-season, I go to the training ground a lot with my children, and it does put us in an uncomfortable position. But we have to be honest with what we're seeing.”
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