Ruben Amorim has taken full responsibility for Manchester United’s struggles, acknowledging that the first team’s failures on the pitch have contributed to widespread job losses within the club. Amid financial instability, the club is set to cut an additional 200 staff roles at Old Trafford in an effort to recover from years of poor financial management.
United’s difficulties in the league, coupled with missing out on Champions League qualification last season, have further strained the club’s finances. The impact of underwhelming performances and costly recruitment mistakes has forced the club to take drastic measures to stabilize its economic situation.
Adding to Amorim’s challenges, Amad Diallo has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining an ankle injury in training. The setback is a significant blow, as the young winger had been in fine form, scoring six goals in his last 14 matches. Midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer also suffered injuries during training, limiting Amorim’s squad options ahead of a crucial fixture against Tottenham.
United currently sit in a disappointing position in the league, with just five wins between them and their upcoming opponents in their last 22 matches combined. The club’s poor form has coincided with an atmosphere of uncertainty behind the scenes, as staff morale continues to drop due to the ongoing job cuts.
Addressing the situation, Amorim emphasized the responsibility that the first team bears for the club’s financial struggles. “People are losing their jobs, and we cannot ignore that. The biggest issue is our performances on the pitch. We spend the money, but we are not winning, and we are not in the Champions League, which affects revenue,” he admitted.
The head coach acknowledged that the team must take accountability and work to turn things around. “We have to change that. The first step is to win at Tottenham. That is the small way we can help these people and try to prevent ticket prices from rising. We are responsible for the club’s situation,” he added.
United’s financial difficulties have also impacted their ability to strengthen the squad. Following the arrival of new ownership, an initial round of 250 redundancies took place, and the latest wave of job cuts highlights the ongoing struggles behind the scenes.
Player recruitment has been restricted, with the 20-year-old Patrick Dorgu being the club’s only signing in the winter transfer window for an initial £25.2 million. Moving forward, United must sell players before reinvesting in new signings, making it more difficult for Amorim to build a team suited to his 3-4-3 tactical system.
The Portuguese coach has implemented the same approach that brought him success at Sporting, but the current squad has struggled to adapt. “I think it can be a weakness at the moment, but when you believe in something, you have to stick with it,” he said. “We focus a lot on the system, but the way we want to play is different from what we are managing at the moment. We are trying to improve.”
Despite the ongoing difficulties, United’s leadership remains committed to Amorim’s philosophy, understanding that time will be needed to develop a team capable of executing his vision effectively. The path forward remains uncertain, but the club must navigate both financial and footballing challenges to rebuild for the future.
