The question on every Manchester United fan’s lips after the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur is a brutal one: does Amorim deserve to be sacked? It’s a query that cuts deep, given the club’s storied history and the weight of expectation that comes with managing the Red Devils. Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese tactician who arrived at Old Trafford in November 2024 with a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches, now finds himself under a microscope.
His side’s dismal 16th-place finish in the Premier League, coupled with a crushing loss to Spurs in Bilbao, has turned up the heat. The Europa League was supposed to be the lifeline, the silver lining in a season of misery, but instead, it’s become another stick to beat Amorim with. So, let’s dive into the chaos, unpack the factors, and figure out whether Amorim’s head should roll or if he deserves a chance to rebuild.
Also Read: Ruben Amorim style of play: Is He the right man for United?
Man United Season So Far
The 2024-25 season has been a nightmare for Manchester United. Fans who once sang of glory days are now drowning their sorrows, watching their team plummet to depths not seen since the 1970s. Amorim, who left Sporting CP with a glowing CV, was hailed as the man to steady the ship after Erik ten Hag’s departure.
But 25 games into his Premier League tenure, United have won just six matches, averaging a measly 0.96 points per game, a stat so grim it makes Paul Jewell’s Derby County side look competent. The Europa League final offered a shot at redemption, a chance to secure Champions League football and a trophy to polish a tarnished campaign.
Instead, Spurs, led by Ange Postecoglou, walked away with the silverware, leaving United with nothing but questions. Social media is ablaze with fans calling for Amorim’s head, with posts on X branding the loss “criminal” and the league form “diabolically indefensible.” But is sacking him the answer, or is there more to this story?
Does Amorim Deserve to Be Sacked?
Let’s cut to the chase: no, Ruben Amorim does not deserve to be sacked, at least not yet. The case for keeping him hinges on context, patience, and the long-term vision Manchester United’s hierarchy, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, claims to support. Amorim inherited a squad assembled for a different manager, one that’s been plagued by injuries, poor recruitment, and a lack of cohesion. His Europa League run, culminating in a 7-1 aggregate thrashing of Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals, showed glimpses of his potential.
Sacking him now, after less than a season, would be a knee-jerk reaction, ignoring the structural issues at United that predate his arrival. Reports from The Guardian and The Mirror confirm that United’s board plans to stick with him, even post-final loss, believing he deserves a summer transfer window to mold the squad to his 3-4-3 system. But the case isn’t airtight, his stubborn tactics and abysmal league form raise red flags. Let’s break it down.
EPL Form
Manchester United’s Premier League form under Amorim has been nothing short of catastrophic. Since his arrival, only relegated sides like Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton have won fewer matches. United’s 24 points from 25 games under Amorim equate to a points-per-game ratio of 0.96, worse than some of the most woeful managerial stints in Premier League history.
Losses to mid-table sides like West Ham (2-0) and Chelsea (1-0) have become depressingly routine, with United failing to win back-to-back league games since Amorim took charge. A 4-3 defeat to Brentford and a 3-1 home loss to Brighton in January where Amorim reportedly considered resigning, highlight a team that’s lost its fight.
Fans on X have called this form “relegation-worthy,” and they’re not wrong. If the Premier League table were based solely on Amorim’s reign, United would be staring down the barrel of the Championship. This isn’t just a rough patch; it’s a full-blown crisis.
Position in the Table
United’s 16th-place standing, with 39 points and a goal difference of -12, is a humiliating low for a club of their stature. It’s their worst season since 1973-74, when they were relegated. Even if they win their final game against Aston Villa, they’re unlikely to climb higher than 13th. This isn’t just a blip, it’s a collapse that’s left Amorim “embarrassed” to look at the table, as he admitted after the West Ham defeat.
The gap between United and the top four is cavernous, and the idea of this squad competing in the Champions League next season feels like a fever dream. Fans like @RedJord2000 on X have called the position “unforgivable,” arguing that no amount of European success can mask this domestic disaster. The table doesn’t lie, and right now, it’s screaming that something is rotten at Old Trafford.
Style of Play
Amorim’s insistence on a 3-4-3 formation has been both his calling card and his Achilles’ heel. At Sporting CP, this system worked wonders, but United’s squad isn’t built for it. Players like Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, better suited as full-backs, struggle as wing-backs, while the midfield often looks exposed. Critics argue that Amorim’s refusal to adapt his tactics to the squad’s limitations is “naive” and a key reason for their struggles.
The banishment of Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa on loan raised eyebrows, with many questioning whether Amorim’s system can unlock United’s attacking potential. Yet, there are moments like the 4-1 second-leg win over Athletic Bilbao, sparked by Mason Mount’s brace where his vision shines through. The problem is consistency; United’s play oscillates between chaotic and uninspired, leaving fans frustrated and Amorim questioning his players’ mindset.
Not Qualifying for the Champions League
The Europa League final was United’s last shot at Champions League qualification, and losing it has slammed the door shut on Europe’s elite competition. The financial hit is significant, reports estimate a £100 million windfall for the winners, while the prestige of the Champions League would have made United a more attractive destination for transfers. Amorim himself has called it “vital” for the club’s return to title contention, yet he’s also warned that his squad isn’t ready to compete on two fronts.
This paradox needing the Champions League but being ill-equipped for it, underscores the rebuilding task he faces. The failure to qualify doesn’t just hurt the balance sheet; it dents United’s allure in a transfer market where they’re already struggling to offload deadwood and attract stars suited to Amorim’s system.
Losing to Spurs in the Europa League Final
The final nail in the coffin was the loss to Tottenham in Bilbao. Facing a Spurs side sitting 17th in the Premier League, United had a golden opportunity to salvage their season. Instead, they fell short, with Ange Postecoglou’s men ending a 17-year trophy drought. The defeat stung, not just because it was Spurs, a rival United should be outclassing but because it exposed Amorim’s inability to deliver when it mattered most.
Fans on X, like @hesham786, slammed his “awful in-game management,” while @da_real_jefe called the loss “criminal.” Yet, it’s worth noting that reaching the final was a minor miracle given United’s domestic woes. Amorim’s European campaign showed tactical nous, but the final exposed the same frailties, defensive lapses and a lack of cutting edge that have plagued his tenure.
Conclusion
Ruben Amorim stands at a crossroads. The case for sacking him is loud and emotional: a 16th-place finish, a points-per-game record that flirts with relegation, and a Europa League final loss to a struggling Spurs side are damning.
Fans are fed up, and the vitriol on X reflects a fanbase that’s lost patience with mediocrity. But sacking Amorim now would be shortsighted. He’s been at the helm for just six months, working with a squad not built for his vision, hampered by injuries to key players like Matthijs de Ligt, and Lisandro Martinez.
The Europa League run, while ending in defeat, proved he can compete on big stages. United’s problems, poor recruitment, a bloated wage bill, and a culture of complacency predate him, and expecting an instant fix is unfair.
The board’s decision to back him, as reported by The Mirror and The Guardian, is the right call for now. A summer transfer window to bring in players suited to his 3-4-3, coupled with a clear-out of underperformers, could give Amorim the tools to succeed. But patience isn’t infinite.
If next season starts as disastrously as this one, the “Amorim Out” chants will grow deafening. For now, he deserves time to prove he’s the man to drag United out of the abyss, but he’s on borrowed time, and he knows it.
