Ruben Amorim has candidly discussed his failures at Manchester United, admitting his stubbornness over the 3-4-3 system contributed to his downfall. The Portuguese coach, sacked in January, is now at AC Milan and reflected on his time in England.
Honest Reflection on United Tenure
In an interview with Sky Italia, Amorim said: “They [Milan] appointed me because they felt I was the right guy for the way I want to play. They want to play the same way, but I think they signed me not just for my success, but also for my experience with a top club like Manchester United and the reflections I shared in our meetings with Mr Cardinale [Milan's owner]. They understood that I was prepared for this job, not just because of my past success, but also because of my failures. I think it helped a lot in those meetings.”
When asked what went wrong at United, Amorim stated: “The first thing is that it doesn’t matter anymore. That is the feeling. There’s a history, then something happens, the context changes, and you focus on the next challenge. I learned a lot. It would be hard to point to one thing, but the important thing that I clearly know is that I made a lot of mistakes. When you do this kind of reflection, and you understand that it was not just their fault, but also my fault, I think you can be a better coach and a better man.”
Key Mistakes Identified
Amorim's primary error was his inflexibility with the 3-4-3 formation. Despite internal pressure in December, he briefly switched to a back four against Newcastle but reverted to 3-4-3 against Wolves. He then complained that top managers like Thomas Tuchel would not tolerate being told how to coach, leading to tensions. His outburst after a post-Leeds press conference marked a breaking point, and he was dismissed—a move club figures believed he wanted. Days later, he was photographed smiling with his wife outside their Cheshire home.
Other mistakes included his handling of Kobbie Mainoo, whom he judged early and refused to change his opinion. While his press conferences were praised by journalists, his honesty sometimes left players exposed. His treatment of academy players, publicly criticising them, also drew criticism. A Milan social media video showed Amorim addressing his new squad, with jokes about young players needing to impress.
Positive Aspects
Amorim did improve the culture at Carrington by moving on big-name players with large egos. His experience at United, though painful, is likely to make him a better coach. However, the club is not a place for learning on the job, and his downfall was inevitable.
