Ruben Amorim has thrown his future as Manchester United manager into serious doubt following a remarkable and explosive press conference after Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Leeds United.
Pressure mounts after Elland Road stalemate
The result at Elland Road on January 4, 2026 marked a second consecutive 1-1 draw against lower-table opposition for United, doing little to ease the growing pressure on the Portuguese boss. Branden Aaronson gave Leeds an early lead before Matheus Cunha secured a point for the visitors in the second half.
However, the on-pitch action was swiftly overshadowed by Amorim's confrontational remarks to the media post-match, which followed earlier hints of discontent about the club's January transfer strategy just days before.
'I am the manager, not the coach'
In a defiant and lengthy statement, Amorim drew a stark line in the sand regarding his role at Old Trafford. "I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United," he asserted forcefully.
He continued, making a pointed reference to high-profile predecessors: "I know that my name is not Tuchel, is not Conte, is not Mourinho, but I'm the manager of Manchester United. It's going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change."
Amorim's comments appear to directly challenge the current power structure at the club, particularly his working relationship with sporting director Jason Wilcox. He emphasised that every department, including scouting, must do their job while he focuses on his own remit.
Player support and future uncertainty
Amid the political storm, Amorim did offer support for his players. He praised striker Benjamin Sesko, who missed chances, stating he was in the right positions and just needed one goal to lift the weight off his shoulders. He also noted improvements from Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte in the match.
When questioned about Zirkzee's future, he gave a curt response, simply stating the forward was a player for the team and needed to be prepared for every game.
Despite his defiant tone, Amorim's remarks have cast a significant shadow over his tenure. His reference to an 18-month timeline and his declaration that he will not quit but will "do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me" suggests a profound rift with the United hierarchy.
The manager also took a swipe at external critics, notably mentioning pundit Gary Neville, suggesting the club needed to be able to handle such commentary if it wanted to succeed.
This public outburst leaves Manchester United in a state of fresh turmoil, with the manager's authority and long-term position now appearing more precarious than ever following a disappointing result on the pitch.
