Amorim – Manchester United squandered another golden opportunity to climb into the Premier League’s top five on Thursday night, as a flat performance at Old Trafford saw them held to a 1–1 draw by relegation-threatened West Ham.
United looked to have secured the win when Diogo Dalot fired home in the second half, but a late equaliser from Soungoutou Magassa ensured the points were shared — and prompted a chorus of boos from the home supporters at full-time.
It wasn’t just the performance that angered fans, but also manager Ruben Amorim’s decision-making, both during and after the game. His substitutions, his in-game management, and most worryingly, his comments afterward have raised serious questions about whether he truly understands the demands of managing Manchester United.
Amorim’s Decisions Defy Logic
Amorim made the surprising call to hand youngster Ayden Heaven his first start of the season amid injuries to Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, but the teenager endured a difficult first half and was replaced at the break by Leny Yoro after picking up an early booking.
Even more baffling was Amorim’s approach once United took the lead. At 1–0, he opted for safety over ambition — withdrawing Matheus Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee for Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte, effectively inviting West Ham to attack. The move backfired, and when the visitors equalised late on, Amorim’s response was to bring on Lisandro Martínez for Luke Shaw.
Desperate for a goal, United still had attack-minded options on the bench in Kobbie Mainoo and promising youngster Shea Lacey — yet Amorim refused to use them. When pressed post-match about his reluctance to turn to Mainoo, his answer was staggering.
“No. We are losing because of the second balls. We have more men to put in the offense? Who? Who would be more offense?”
When a journalist suggested Mainoo, Amorim laughed. That reaction alone spoke volumes.
He later doubled down, insisting that a single set-piece was to blame for the draw:
“We can’t let a team that’s much bigger than us get a corner in these conditions. It’s the details that make the difference — and today, a corner made the difference.”
Those comments underline a growing problem: Amorim doesn’t get what Manchester United is about.
A Manager Who Doesn’t Understand Manchester United
This isn’t about Mainoo, or the academy, or one bad result — it’s about a manager who simply doesn’t understand the essence of this football club.
At Manchester United, winning is the expectation. But when that isn’t possible, supporters demand something else: intent, energy, and ambition. Even in defeat, the fans want to see a team trying to win — not one retreating into its shell.
Amorim is failing on all fronts.
In over a year at the helm, he’s managed just 23 wins in 57 games — only 13 of those in the Premier League. That’s nowhere near good enough for a club of United’s stature. But beyond the numbers, it’s the lack of identity and courage that’s most alarming. His substitutions consistently sap United’s momentum, and his explanations for those decisions show a worrying disconnect from the expectations of the supporters and the club’s history.
INEOS Must Act Before It’s Too Late
There comes a point where persistence turns into stubbornness, and Manchester United may already be there with Ruben Amorim.
He doesn’t understand what this club represents — the need to attack, to entertain, and to fight until the final whistle. His overly cautious style is draining belief from both the squad and the fanbase.
If United are serious about rebuilding under INEOS, they need to show intent and cut ties with Amorim before the damage becomes irreversible.
Amorim’s tenure has become a failed experiment. It’s time for United to move on — and bring in a manager who not only understands football, but understands Manchester United.
