Manchester United legend Gary Neville has identified the specific match he believes proved to be the final straw for Ruben Amorim, who was sacked by the club on Monday after just 14 months in charge.
The 'Killer Game' at Old Trafford
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Neville pinpointed the 1-1 home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 30 as the pivotal moment. He argued that the performance in that fixture, where a struggling Wolves side secured only their third point of the season at Old Trafford, should have triggered immediate talks between the manager and the club's hierarchy.
"Look, if there was a meeting on Friday morning about the performance against Wolves between the sporting director and the manager - I'd actually have been disappointed if there wasn't a meeting after the Wolves performance," Neville stated. "I think as a sporting director or owner of a football club, you should be entitled to go and speak to a manager when the team have played like they have."
Amorim's Defiant Final Stand
The Portuguese manager's tenure ended just 24 hours after a tense 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday. That result left United in sixth place, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool near the season's midway point.
Following the Leeds match, a visibly frustrated Amorim delivered a lengthy and defiant statement regarding his position, directly addressing perceived criticism and clarifying his role. "I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United," he asserted, distinguishing between having broader control and merely coaching the first team.
He continued, "I know that my name is not [Thomas] Tuchel, is not [Antonio] Conte, is not [Jose] Mourinho, but I'm the manager of Manchester United... I'm not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me." He emphasised that his remit covered every department, including scouting, and that his original deal was for 18 months.
Neville's Verdict on the Fallout
Neville suggested that Amorim's public stance ultimately made his position untenable. "The reality of it is, when you turn on your bosses - it doesn't matter whether you're at a football club or you work in Morrisons - if you turn on your bosses, you're not going to keep your job very long," he said.
While acknowledging Amorim's honesty and integrity, Neville analysed the team's inconsistent form. He noted some positive performances, such as the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, but highlighted a series of poor results over the previous month:
- A loss to 10-man Everton.
- A home draw with West Ham, who "could've got more out of the game."
- The decisive draw with Wolves.
"Some of the performances in the last month... they've been shocking," Neville concluded, though he added there had been "some bright spots along the way." He even considered the final game against Leeds a decent performance and a good point, but believed the damage had already been done, primarily by the Wolves stalemate.
The club confirmed Amorim's departure on Monday, ending his 14-month reign and sparking an immediate search for a fourth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.
