Ruben Amorim has been in charge at Manchester United for more than three months but has yet to lift his new team back into the top half of the Premier League table
Ruben Amorim during Real Sociedad vs Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has faced challenges during his first Manchester United season (
Image: PA)
Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes doesn't think Ruben Amorim needs to be fearful for his job just yet, suggesting the Portuguese needs three or four more transfer windows to get his squad in perfect shape.
Amorim was unable to do much during his first window in charge, with wing-back Patrick Dorgu the highest-profile addition. United's recruitment in recent windows has come in for some criticism, to the point that part-owner Sir Jim Ratclfife was reportedly prepared to sell any player for the right price in January.
United took a threadbare squad to San Sebastian for the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday, with injuries and ineligibility reducing the available numbers. They still claimed a solid draw, though, with Joshua Zirkzee putting them in front before Mikel Oyarzabal equalised from the penalty spot.
Scholes was covering the match for TNT Sports, and sympathised with Amorim at this early stage of his United tenure. The Red Devils continue to struggle in the league, though, and fellow pundit Karen Carney didn't see things quite the same way.
"I don’t think there is much pressure on him yet," Scholes said. "I think he is alright. He is going to get plenty of time now, he needs to turn this club around and has not really signed players. There are a lot of areas to improve and he needs three or four windows, it will take a lot of time to get the club back to where it should be."
Carney disagreed, pointing at Amorim's reluctance to drop his preferred tactical set-up with the players he has inherited. "I think he is under pressure with progressing, maybe it is stubbornness with the system," she said. "I understand why he is not but he is under huge pressure as Man United manager."
Scholes has seen United cycle through several managers since his own playing career ended, though, and saw no value in starting again with a new boss. "I think they have to stick with him. Where else can they go?" the 50-year-old continued.
"He is a bright young manager, speaks well and there is so much going on in the background which cant be helpful. Let's give him time and back him to move the team forwards."
Which pundit do you agree with? Have your say in the comments section
United's Europa League round of 16 tie is delicately poised (
Image:
Getty Images)
United have a league match against Arsenal before the second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday. Young striker Chido Obi will be available to face his former club after being left out of the European squad, but the head coach suggests a balance needs to be struck over the next week.
"We need to survive physically on Sunday to be ready for Thursday," Amorim said after the first leg in Spain. "We need to be pragmatic, we need to win one game in Old Trafford. We have to think that way.
"You can get a little bit frustrated because, like I said, we had control of the game, but you can think also about the opportunities they had at the end of the game. The tie could be different, so we take the game to Old Trafford and we’ll be ready.
“We have to recover [between now and Sunday], be really smart during the game against Arsenal. We have to check the players, they have to sleep. It’s an important moment in our season.”
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