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Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has suggested that Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was not given the full picture of the task at hand when he was offered the job.
Amorim has endured a difficult spell at United since he was appointed as Erik ten Hag’s replacement in November last year.
The former Sporting CP gaffer has racked up nine losses across all competitions, only winning 10 and drawing five.
United were dumped out of the FA Cup on Sunday by Fulham, leaving them with the Europa League as their only remaining opportunity to lift some silverware at the end of the season.
In addition to United’s woes on the pitch, things have also been rocky off it. Last week, the club announced an ambitious “transformation plan” intended to return the Red Devils to profitability and avail more cash for Amorim to spend on reinforcing his squad.
Part of this plan involves making hundreds of staff redundant – a move that has seen intense criticism levelled at Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the ownership group.
It’s widely known that Amorim won’t have the luxury of a large budget like his predecessors, due to United’s ongoing financial struggles.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer questioned whether Amorim regrets his decision to swap Sporting for United in the middle of the season.
Shearer also wondered if Amorim was given a full picture of the club’s poor state.
“I’d love to know Ruben Amorim’s personal thoughts because there’s no way that job description could’ve been sold to like it is now, in terms of they’ve got no money, they’re as bad as they are.”
“He must be thinking, ‘wow, that state of the football club on and off the pitch, what have I done here?’ He must be thinking that.”
Amorim holds the unwanted record of having the lowest win rate of any United manager in the Premier League era at a mere 31%. There has been a clamour from some quarters for the 40-year-old to ditch his favoured 3-4-3 formation for a system that suits the players currently at his disposal.
However, the Portuguese coach has remained firm so far, insisting he will not compromise on his principles.
Shearer said about this, “Isn’t a coach’s job to get the very best out of his players? I understand he has a philosophy but his players can’t play that way.”
“I get that he wants to play a certain way. It’s been successful for him in his young coaching career. But you also have to get the best out of your players and he isn’t at the minute because his players can’t do what he wants them to do.”
“It’s blatantly obvious. I do sometimes think that they’re confused. Is that the best he can get them to play?”
United are back in action on Thursday when they go away to Spain to face Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Europa League’s round of 16.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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