Former Manchester United player, Rio Ferdinand, has recently shared his insights on the club's current manager, Ruben Amorim. His comments come amidst a challenging period for the club and provide an interesting perspective on the situation.
Ruben Amorim took over as manager of Manchester United in November 2024. The club showed immediate support for him during the summer transfer window of 2025 by spending £200 million to bring in players like Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. There are also reports that Manchester United is keen to beat Liverpool and Chelsea to Barcelona prodigy Pedro Fernandez.
The 2024-25 season proved to be a difficult one for Manchester United under Amorim’s leadership. The team finished in an unprecedented 15th place in the Premier League table - their worst performance ever. This result was a severe blow to the club’s reputation and morale. Despite this setback, there have been mixed results so far this season with one win, one draw and one loss placing them currently ninth in the league table. However, questions about Amorim’s strategy have arisen following a defeat against League Two’s Grimsby Town in August's Carabao Cup match.
Rio Ferdinand backs Ruben Amorim
Amidst these challenges, Rio Ferdinand has voiced his support for Ruben Amorim.
Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United legend, said:
“I was happy that the manager is able to make up his mind on things and the recruitment team are executing behind that. They are backing the manager. If people were thinking there were any doubts about the club backing the manager or Amorim being at the football club, it’s only going to be his decision whether Onana stays or Lammens comes in. It’s a great sign in that respect.
“Whether you think Onana should have stayed or not is irrelevant. The manager has made up his mind. He played Bayindir early on and said he’s in because of football reasons. That was a big statement from the manager and his intentions of what he wanted to do with Onana.”
Ferdinand believes that despite public opinion about certain decisions made by Amorim - such as playing Bayindir early on - it is ultimately up to the manager to make these calls. He also emphasized that the club is fully backing Amorim, which he sees as a positive sign.
Pressure on Amorim
Despite Ferdinand's support, there is no denying that the pressure on Amorim is immense. With significant funds invested in new players and a responsibility to restore Manchester United's former glory, much rests on his shoulders.
Critics have pointed out that Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation may not be compatible with the demands of the Premier League. Opposition teams have been able to exploit this rigidity and halt United’s attack.
While Rio Ferdinand has expressed his support for Ruben Amorim amidst challenging times at Manchester United, it remains clear that there are significant hurdles for him to overcome. As fans and critics alike watch closely, only time will tell if Ruben Amorim can steer Manchester United back towards its old glory.
