Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has responded to Ruben Amorim’s latest controversial comments.
Ever since his appointment, Ruben Amorim has spoken freely to the media, perhaps too freely.
Ahead of Manchester United’s game with Bournemouth, Amorim managed to put his foot in his mouth with his comments about the club’s academy.
While defending his stance to not select Kobbie Mainoo on a regular basis, Amorim pointed out that he has given game time to academy players previously, and did not think much of their current situations.
Referencing Toby Collyer, Harry Amass and Chido Obi, the United head coach noted that none of them are putting up compelling cases to start for his team on a regular basis.
Ruben Amorim believes Harry Amass and Chido Obi would not make an impact in the Man Utd first team 🤔
What do you think of Amorim's comments? Is he making a good point, or is he losing it?
Ruben Amorim on Amass/Chido
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Ruben Amorim’s comments brought a backlash from Manchester United fans. It came after former star Paul Scholes had claimed the coach ‘does not get the club’.
United are known for giving opportunities to young players, but this season Amorim has undermined this philosophy with his selections, and now his comments. His comments only prove Scholes right.
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Scholes’ former teammate Rio Ferdinand took a different view, and backed Amorim’s right to assess his players.
Harry Amass of Sheffield Wednesday runs with the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City at Hillsborough on October 04, 2025
Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand defended Amorim’s comments about Harry Amass, who has been praised elsewhere for his loan performances.
Ferdinand said: “Amass is doing well at Sheffield Wednesday, a team struggling in what division, Championship.
“Man United’s a different problem. They had him here.
“If he was good enough, he would have been playing.
“It’s not like it’s a position where it’s Bruno’s position where you’ve got a perfect player playing there.
“There’s room for improvement at the left-back position.Amass was there.”
Amorim handed Amass his debut last season and even started him in the Premier League, but a decision was made to send him on loan.
Ferdinand added: “He might have made a blanket statement, I don’t think you can hang him for that.”
Ruben Amorim admitted coaches can be wrong about a player when discussing Kobbie Mainoo
Could Mainoo follow Vitinha and become a 'best in the world' calibre star if he gets a transfer?
Amorim/Mainoo/Vitinha
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Ferdinand admits it’s difficult for Mainoo
The debate over Kobbie Mainoo’s future sparked Amorim’s comments, and returning to this topic, Ferdinand says it is one that the head coach cannot escape.
Despite this, he admits there is no easy pathway for Mainoo to get back into the starting line-up on a regular basis.
He said: “Man United are synonymous for young players, that’s just a fact, there’s no getting away from it for him, also you look at Kobbie Mainoo. I want him to play, but he’s probably got the two hardest positions right now to get into.
“Casemiro when he plays we are better, the stats tell you that, and Bruno Fernandes is the best player, his direct competition is Bruno.”
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