Ruben Amorim
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The pressure is mounting at Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim has endured a nightmare start to life at Old Trafford since replacing Erik ten Hag in October.
He arrived from Sporting CP with a glowing reputation, but the results, performances and atmosphere around the club have all significantly declined under his watch.
United sit 16th in the Premier League and face their worst-ever league finish, while Amorim’s tactics and man-management have regularly come under fire.
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There is already talk that Amorim could be sacked if United lose Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
It would mean no silverware, no Champions League qualification.
Ultimately, no financial uplift to boost a broken squad.
And now, ESPN’s Mark Ogden has revealed that Amorim came close to walking away from the club altogether earlier this season.
Ruben Amorim was prepared to quit as Manchester United manager
The Portuguese coach has been deeply affected by United’s collapse on the pitch.
ESPN report that after a dismal 3-1 home defeat to Brighton in January – part of a run that saw just one win in eight league games – Amorim was so disillusioned with the job that he was prepared to quit.
Though no formal resignation was submitted, sources say he was “talked out of the idea by associates” and needed serious reassurance from United CEO Omar Berrada and other senior figures.
It followed weeks of long hours and stress, with ESPN adding that Amorim was working 14-hour days, arriving at Carrington by 7am every morning.
He had initially wanted to stay at Sporting until the summer before taking charge.
But, United’s insistence on an immediate appointment has spectacularly backfired.
The pressure has taken a toll.
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One source told ESPN as per their report that Amorim was “visibly greying” during January’s horror run.
Even the United boss joked about it after his side narrowly beat Fulham on his 40th birthday, saying: “I’m 40 today … well, I’m 50 after spending two months at Man United!”
One source told ESPN that Amorim has however, “started to love” the scale of the challenge at Old Trafford since January.
But others say he remains locked in a battle to “get the mindset right” at a club plagued by uncertainty, cost-cutting, and continued underperformance.
Now, just one match remains in the season – and its outcome could define not just Amorim’s future, but the immediate direction of the Red Devils.
All eyes turn to Bilbao on Wednesday night.
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