Manchester United's decision to sack head coach Ruben Amorim has cast a spotlight on the club's internal dynamics, with previous comments from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson now taking on renewed significance. The Portuguese coach was dismissed on Monday, just over a year after his arrival from Sporting CP in November 2024.
Amorim's Defiant Stance and Ferguson's Backing
In the wake of a draw with Leeds United on Sunday, Amorim made a pointed public statement about his role. "I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United," he declared, hinting at frustrations with the club's structure and recruitment during the open January transfer window.
However, before his departure, Amorim had received notable support from Sir Alex Ferguson regarding the club's summer transfer business. Speaking to Raceday RTV in November, the iconic former boss praised several new arrivals, highlighting their positive impact.
Ferguson's Praise for Key Signings
Ferguson specifically singled out goalkeeper Senne Lammens for exceptional praise. The 23-year-old Belgian, signed for £18.2 million from Royal Antwerp, impressed Ferguson immediately. "Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding," Ferguson said. "He's only played three or four games and he's looking really good."
He also commended the contributions of forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, acquired from Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively. "Of course, Mbeumo and Cunha... they've added to it," Ferguson noted, expressing hope that Amorim would find success. "The signs are getting better," he added, referencing back-to-back wins as a standard United should expect.
The Long-Term Challenge at Old Trafford
In a later interview with Press Box PR, Ferguson reiterated his admiration for Lammens, Cunha, and Mbeumo, suggesting the goalkeeper's appointment had "made a difference." However, he also offered a sobering perspective on the scale of the task at United, drawing a parallel with Liverpool's historic drought.
"I remember looking back on my own time there, starting off when Liverpool were the bee's knees," Ferguson reflected. "They were a fantastic club... but then it took them 31 years to win the league again. We are now in the same situation."
He warned that the cycle could last a decade or more and stressed that careful planning and superior recruitment were the only solutions to return United to title contention. Ferguson described Amorim as a "good personality" facing a difficult challenge.
Legacy of a Short Tenure
Amorim's tenure ends with Manchester United in sixth place in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea and three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. His public insistence on managerial authority and his implied criticism of the transfer process ultimately preceded his exit.
Ferguson's comments, made in support during Amorim's reign, now serve as a poignant footnote to a brief chapter at Old Trafford. They underscore both the promise seen in recent signings and the immense, long-term institutional challenge that remains for the club's hierarchy to solve.
