Ruben Amorim: 'Nobody wants me to be fired'

Ruben Amorim confirms he still has the support of the Man Utd players, while also revealing what he truly expects from the team.

Ruben Amorim stated that he clearly feels the Manchester United players do not want him to be dismissed, after the team’s 2-0 win over Sunderland helped ease some of the pressure on the Portuguese coach. Goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko secured the Red Devils’ third victory of the season, alleviating disappointment following last week’s loss to Brentford.

Before this match, Amorim had only earned 34 points from 33 games, but the win against Sunderland lifted MU to 8th place in the standings Premier League, level on points with Man City despite having played one more match.

Mount opened the scoring in the 8th minute at Old Trafford and afterward, the English midfielder expressed his support for the coach: “We are 100% behind the manager. There have been results that hurt the entire team, coaching staff, and fans, but today’s win is very important.”

Mount hopes this marks the start of a positive run: “It has to be like that. After the Chelsea match, we thought it would be the beginning, but then we lost to Brentford. Today is the real start, and we will work hard during the break. The goal is to win two, then three consecutive matches, moving closer to the top 4.”

Amorim emphasized that the players’ resilient performance shows their support for him, and he is pleased with the team spirit despite a slower pace in the second half: “We didn’t play well throughout the entire match, but overall, it was a collective effort. The whole team stayed focused, defended solidly, and tried to finish the game in the second half. I’m satisfied with that and looking forward to the next game.”

When asked about Mount’s supportive statement, Amorim said he understands the players do not want constant managerial changes. He is currently the sixth manager at MU since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013: “I know they want to do well and everyone at MU does not want the manager to be fired,” Amorim said.

“But as I said, supporting the manager is not just words; it means fighting with all your might in every play. We need to show that on the pitch, not only at Old Trafford but also when playing away.”

Amorim also praised new goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who made his debut after transferring from Royal Antwerp: “He looked very confident in his first match. His teammates helped Senne have a good debut with focus and few mistakes. We played well; it was a team effort.”

The Portuguese coach also explained why it took time before giving Lammens a chance while Altay Bayindir’s form declined: “When Senne arrived, Altay was still the starter. He needed time to adapt, get used to the new environment, and the pressure here is huge. We wanted to prepare him carefully, and today was a good debut. But this is just the beginning; Senne must keep working hard because everything at this club is demanding.”

Additionally, Amorim praised Benjamin Sesko, who scored his first goal at Old Trafford and his second consecutive goal after netting against Brentford: “He was brought in to score and bring a different style inside the box. Sesko has excellent aerial ability. Beyond the goal, his other qualities will help us win. He puts pressure on himself, which isn’t bad, and Sesko has the potential to achieve much more.”

Manchester United will have a two-week break to accommodate the international fixtures in October. After that, they face a tough away match against reigning champions Liverpool.

Amorim admits the break disrupts the team’s momentum, but this is nothing new: “Our team doesn’t have long winning streaks, whether we rest or not,” he laughed. “What disappoints me is that we haven’t shown the same performance at home and away. Today, even though we didn’t play well in the second half, the whole team stayed focused and fought hard, and that’s necessary to become a great team.”

Related articles

Messi will have a new teammate, a 'disaster' star at MU Inter Miami is about to complete the signing of a former Manchester United player, as the David Beckham-owned club continues to strengthen their squad with new stars. See more