Ruben Amorim should be terrified by Erik ten Hag’s 10-word statement about Man Utd

Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United manager quickly saw its promise drain away and there are clear parallels between his dismal reign and Ruben Amorim’s current struggles

He hasn’t been there long, but Ruben Amorim is already paddling against the tide at Manchester United.

The Portuguese manager has been struggling to kick the Red Devils into gear, and unless things improve soon, he could join Erik ten Hag on the scrapheap. United have been disappointing all season and are facing one of the worst domestic finishes to a campaign in over 50 years.

They’re 14th in the Premier League and were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday, leaving the Europa League as their only realistic shot of silverware this season. There have been glimpses of promise under Amorim, like the 2-1 victory against Manchester City in December, but strong showings have been few and far between.

This lack of form has hampered on-field cohesion and deflated morale. It was the same story for Ten Hag, who, despite snagging a couple of trophies during his tenure, never got the team ticking as the fans would have liked.

The comparisons don’t end there. Amorim has repeatedly vowed to be a success at Old Trafford, and while his self-confidence is commendable, it doesn’t mean he’ll be able to deliver on his promise. Ten Hag, not long after his arrival in Manchester, expressed similar confidence.

“I’m convinced I’ll get it done – I did it everywhere,” he told reporters confidently when questioned about his capability to restore United’s former glory. Like Amorim, Ten Hag had a shaky start at United. He suffered two losses in his first two league matches, including a 4-0 thrashing by Brighton, and later lost 6-3 defeat in the Manchester derby.

However, the team’s performance improved midway through the season, culminating in an impressive third-place finish in the Premier League, a League Cup victory, and an appearance in the FA Cup final.

But an unstable start to the following season plunged them back into chaos, with Ten Hag’s squad enduring nine league defeats before New Year’s Day. Performances deteriorated, with on-field cohesion virtually non-existent, and for extended periods, the manager, like many of his players, appeared lost and devoid of ideas.

Many anticipated the Dutchman would be shown the door that summer, especially with new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe openly considering replacements. But an unexpected FA Cup win somewhat masked the flaws of an otherwise disappointing campaign, ultimately saving Ten Hag’s job.

Despite splashing out over £170million on new recruits in the summer transfer window, the former Ajax coach couldn’t halt the decline that had seemingly entrenched itself deep within his struggling United side, and after slipping to 13th in the table the following November, the axe finally fell.

Results are yet to improve under Amorim, and although it’s only fair to give him more time before a thorough judgement, his lacklustre start is concerning. As is the fact he’s butted head with key players such as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, echoing Ten Hag’s conflicts with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.

Managers ought to be firm, but unyielding attitudes often bring more strife than solutions. And with unsatisfactory results and performances, Amorim can hardly afford to justify the growing doubts around his credentials and long-term future at the club.

The two trophies won by Ten Hag were merely the fourth and fifth United have clinched since Sir Alex Ferguson left 12 years ago, yet they scarcely cast his otherwise lacklustre period in charge in a favourable light. Amorim seems to recognise this, having downplayed the significance of winning the Europa League this season.

“People are looking at this Europa League as the unique competition we can win, also the connection with winning the Europa League with [qualifying for the] Champions League,” he said. “But to tell you the truth I think we have bigger things to think, I know it’s strange to say that but it’s something we’re trying to build here that is going to be more important than winning a cup in this moment.

“I know the responsibility we have to fight for every trophy but in this moment we’re trying to build something that will last more than any trophy this season.”

This mentality should benefit the 40-year-old, but only if the aforementioned ‘build’ actually materialises. More than anything, United need a light at the end of the tunnel right now, with team morale seemingly at an all-time low.

If Amorim wants to avoid Ten Hag’s fate, he needs to quickly establish consistency, rhythm and momentum. His team have looked disjointed and unbalanced for much of his brief tenure, and while time is needed to instil new systems and philosophies, neither United’s hierarchy nor their fans will put up with mediocrity for long.

So, the clock is ticking. Amorim must demonstrate – and do so swiftly – that he’s the man to turn the tide and steady the ship – before he’s thrown overboard himself.

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