Man Utd were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and Ruben Amorim's position is under scrutiny.
Nicky Butt was asked about Ruben Amorim.(Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
Nicky Butt believes Ruben Amorim needs another two transfer windows to be successful at Manchester United.
Amorim was appointed in November and United signed Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in the January transfer window. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Diego Leon have been added this summer.
United have spent close to £200million to overhaul their attack in a single window, but the first three games of the season have sent a reminder that other areas must be strengthened.
Amorim apologised to supporters after defeat to Grimsby in the Carabao Cup. United crashed out on penalties at Blundell Park and the pressure is already mounting on the 40-year-old.
Speaking in an interview with BetMGM, Butt shared his thoughts on the managerial situation.
He said: “We can’t accept it getting worse than last year. If it does and how much time Ruben Amorim gets, well, we know what it’s like. November or December, if United are 15th and not playing well, then the rumour mill starts. He’ll be under pressure, even more than he is now.
“I think you need to give him two transfer windows after this one, but then real progression is going to be needed from him too. I say ‘him’ because he is the leader, but everything has to improve and move forward. If it's standing still or going backwards, then he is in trouble.
“The top teams will be getting better. Liverpool have already spent £200 million, plus maybe another £150m more on Alexander Isak – they aren't standing still.
“It will take time for United to catch them. City, Arsenal and Chelsea will all improve, too, so where does that leave United?
“People understand it will take time, but we need to see improvement. If there isn’t any, then that's when the pressure starts, that's when the rumours kick in.”
Butt continued: “I think you have to put it down to personnel. Those on the pitch just haven’t performed, it really is that simple. Bruno [Fernandes] had a decent season and did well, but I can’t think of any others that did. There’s poor, there’s OK and then there’s Bruno.
“It’s difficult bringing players into that system. Everyone talks about us [the class of 92] coming through, but if we’d have come through in this United side, we wouldn’t have stood a chance. People would have been saying, ‘where’s Nicky Butt now, where’s David Beckham?’.
“We were good young players, but we had the players in the squad like Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona – we had so many top-class players around us, you could afford to have an off day.
“Now, though, players are written off as not good enough straight away; it’s clear that the experience and the leaders just aren’t there and they have to come into the squad soon.”
United play Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday before the international break begins.
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