Mourinho directly advises Amorim on how to avoid being sacked by MU

04/10/2025 10:13:00 GoalGuru

Jose Mourinho recently made notable comments about modern football coaching, indirectly sending a message to his compatriot Ruben Amorim—the Manchester United manager—on how to avoid the pitfalls faced by many other coaches.

After returning to Benfica last month, Mourinho took time to share his philosophy on coaching football today. He believes adaptation is more important than stubbornly sticking to a tactical system. “Nowadays, there is no such thing as a single playing model. There are many ways to play football, and no fixed tactical system. Coaches must know how to adjust their ideas according to the resources they have,”Mourinho emphasized.

The former Chelsea and MU manager also pointed out that those who rigidly cling to theory often fail. “Some coaches try ineffective methods and fail, but then say: ‘I died with my idea.’ Dying with your idea is foolishness,”he stated bluntly. Mourinho gave the example of Pep Guardiola, who knows when to make changes, such as deciding to replace Joe Hart with Ederson—something not every coach can do.

Mourinho believes modern coaches must be adaptable rather than stubborn

This message is widely seen as directed at Ruben Amorim. Although he has managed MU for just over a year, he has faced heavy pressure after the team lost 3 matches in the Premier League this season and was eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town. Amorim remains firm on his 3-defender formation, which he insists “will not change,” despite the system not fully utilizing the players’ strengths. In fact, last month he declared: “Even the Pope couldn’t make me abandon my viewpoint.”.

Mourinho warns that modern football has changed how coaches are selected. “Today, there are coaches whose names I don’t even know who can come to the Premier League. I don’t say this to be disrespectful, but because it’s true. Some coaches are chosen based on data and numbers, not on winning,”he shared.

Ruben Amorim faces criticism for sticking to a 3-defender system despite MU’s decline

Following a disappointing season finishing 15th in the Premier League, the pressure on Ruben Amorim is mounting. Whenever the team makes progress, they quickly encounter setbacks. Without flexibility, Amorim risks falling into the same fate as many previous managers at Old Trafford.

With over 25 years of experience and 3 Premier League titles, Mourinho indirectly tells his compatriot that adaptability is key to survival in the harsh environment of the Premier League. For MU, what they need is not a coach who “dies with his idea,” but one who knows how to win using whatever system best suits the squad.

Related articles