Renowned for his candour during press conferences, Ruben Amorim has earned himself a reputation for being almost too forthright. His recent dealings with Manchester United have shown that his brand of brutal honesty can be a double-edged sword, as showcased by his comments on the future of young talent Kobbie Mainoo and his prior musings about his future should results fail to improve.
This unfiltered approach seems to have been an appealing factor for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS hierarchy when they decided to bring the Portuguese manager in to replace Erik ten Hag. However, with an upcoming clash against Brentford offering Amorim a chance to secure consecutive Premier League victories for the first time, one wonders if unguarded admissions might prove costly.
In a moment of striking self-revelation during a press conference, Amorim confessed: “It is normal that the fans don’t know what is going to happen in the next game. To be completely honest, I have an idea, but I don’t know how it’s going to be and I’m the manager of the team! The best way of dealing with that is every game is the last one.”
While a dash of self-deprecation can endear a manager to supporters, Amorim’s comments reveal the immense pressure he is under. It’s astounding that after a ten-month tenure with one of the world’s largest clubs, he has yet to achieve the semblance of consistency that back-to-back victories would signify. His press conference charm, though, has been instrumental in maintaining a mirage of stability amidst the on-pitch tumult.
In truth, Amorim’s admission that no manager truly knows what will happen in a match is what makes football captivating. However, five games into a new season with little to signal a shift from last season’s catastrophic campaign, the revelation that he doesn’t fully grasp how to restore former glories is worrying.
United’s supporters heading to Brentford may feel a growing concern about their team’s performance, fluctuating between mildly competent and downright disappointing. Shouldn’t the manager possess more insight than just a mere “idea”? Perhaps Amorim could momentarily shelve his honesty, adopting the veneer of certainty that his players and fans desperately need as they strive to dispel this two-game winless jinx.
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