Man Utd had no choice but to sack Ruben Amorim - they should have done it sooner

Ruben Amorim was lucky to get as long as he did. Fourteen months at Old Trafford has brought just 25 wins in Amorim’s 63 games in charge and the worst win ratio of 32 per cent of any Manchester United manager in the Premier League era.

Where is the team going? What is the team’s identity? You look at the table and you could argue that Amorim has made progress and is pushing for Europe. But that is when you need to check yourself and remember this is Manchester United we are talking about.

This is the club which sees it itself as the biggest club in the world with the biggest ambitions and an incredible global fanbase which is absolutely second to none when it comes to backing their managers.

And even the most loyal United supporters had become split on Amorim. United should not be languishing in sixth place after 20 very unconvincing games this season.

The club backed the manager to the hilt in the summer. They spent £216m on new signings over the summer with Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens all arriving.

United were absolutely right to stick with Amorim into this campaign and give him every chance to succeed because he took over mid-season and inherited a bit of a mess from Erik ten Hag.

But a really top manager would be able to take the squad and turn them into a team fit to wear the shirt.

Do you really think a manager of the class and pedigree of Pep Guardiola would be struggling in his second season? He would build a team which, even if it was not winning, would be competitive.

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Look at the job even Enzo Maresca did at Chelsea . He won trophies and got them into the Champions League places. Oliver Glasner is in the bookies’ list of favourites for United because of the job he has done at Crystal Palace . They won a trophy.

All of those managers would unquestionably be doing better at United with the same players that Amorim has at his disposal. They would not be throwing away games and leads.

Amorim was crazy to challenge the board in a power grab when actually he was doing a pretty average job. He needed their backing - not to spark a civil war.

You also have to question him on specific players. You could make a case that Kobbie Mainoo was almost promoted too soon as he found himself in the heart of England’s midfield in the Euros.

But Mainoo still showed that he is one of England’s brightest young stars. And the way he has been discarded and overlooked is a failure on Amorim’s part - not the player’s.

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Similar with Benjamin Sesko. He looks utterly broken. This is a serious player who has got potential and would be better in a better team with a better manager.

When United signed Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo in the summer, that should have been a front three to compete with the best in the Premier League. Then Bruno Fernandes also in the supply line.

Instead, we get Amorim hardly ever using them together because he was so wedded to his tactics and formation. He left it too late to change. That is not being strong as a manager. It is a weakness to be so inflexible.

It is all well and good to talk about other managers getting time. Mikel Arteta is a prime example. But Arsenal is different to Manchester United. Do you really think United can wait two years?

Of course not. Even Sir Jim Ratcliffe misjudged that one when he said Amorim would get time. To get time, you have to show progress.

And, ultimately, Amorim was not doing nearly enough to warrant more time. It is painful, brutal and looks chaotic. But United had to take the decision to sack him.

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