Gabby Agbonlahor believes big change could be ahead at Manchester United, with all eyes focused on Ruben Amorim’s job as head coach.
Ruben Amorim is under increasing pressure after Man United’s miserable start to the season, and patience from even the most loyal of supporters looks to have finally snapped.
The Red Devils have won just one of their opening four Premier League games and are already out of the Carabao Cup, having been dumped out by League Two minnows Grimsby Town.
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While Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos appear to be backing their man for now, speculation is ramping up that a change could soon be made, and Gabby Agbonlahor believes that would suit Amorim just fine.
Ruben Amorim reacts during Manchester United's defeat against Manchester City
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
Gabby Agbonlahor says Ruben Amorim wants Man United to sack him
Former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor made the outrageous claim on talkSPORT on Wednesday morning, a few days before United’s make-or-break showdown against Chelsea this weekend.
“The club’s in a mess,” he said. “And if there’s ever a manager who has shown in his recent press conferences he wants to be sacked, it’s Ruben Amorim.
“I can read body language. I can read the way managers speak. The way he’s talking, the formation I’m going to stick with. If he does, if he wants anything different, you get rid of the manager.
“Who speaks like that? If I’m the Manchester United hierarchy, I’m like, is this guy serious? Serious.
“He will be sacked this season.
“I really don’t see him changing. And he keeps saying the same things. He’ll change the personnel. He won’t change the formation and you’ll change one of the centre halves every single game.”
It doesn’t get much easier for Amorim and Man United, with Chelsea up next in the Premier League, before arguably must-win games against Sunderland and Brentford.
That then takes the Red Devils into the international break, which may offer a chance to reflect on the start of the season and where they go from there, before a tough return against Liverpool.
Gabby Agbonlahor on punditry duties for Amazon Prime during a Premier League game
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Time is running out for Ruben Amorim at Man United
Man United are currently stuck at a crossroads, and they have been warned by Micah Richards that nothing will improve as long as Amorim persists with a failing approach.
While there are no concrete suggestions that the manager has thrown in the towel, like Agbonlahor suggests, he has made no secret of the fact that he was open to walking away on more than one occasion.
That does not sound like a man who wholeheartedly believes he is capable of turning this ship around.
Supporters are not happy with performances, and pundits have criticised Amorim’s stubbornness, with his 3-4-2-1 shape failing to produce results even after the addition of several big-name forwards.
With gruelling fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool coming up over the next few weeks, the clock is undeniably ticking for Amorim.
He needs to start producing results, and fast.