Amorim could be sacked this weekend as United host Chelsea, says Shearer
United sit 14th after four games; Shearer and Neville warn Amorim's 3-4-3 approach could cost him his job as they prepare to face Chelsea.
Manchester United could see Ruben Amorim fired as early as this weekend if results do not improve, after a chastening 3-0 loss to Manchester City left the club 14th in the Premier League with four points from four games. Old Trafford hosts Chelsea on Saturday, and another defeat could deepen the crisis at United.
Alan Shearer warned on Betfair that Amorim's steadfast devotion to a 3-4-3 system risks widening a gap to City and setting a dangerous template if there is no quick adjustment. 'It was men against boys last weekend at the Etihad,' Shearer said, describing United's display as 'miles apart' in ability, system and attitude despite the spending in the summer. 'I don't think they can afford to be beaten like that again this weekend. If they were then you'd have to fear for what's going to happen going forward for the manager.' Shearer added that Amorim could be sacked as early as this weekend and that the manager's refusal to adapt could prove fatal. 'Something must improve rapidly. Man United can't be lingering in 14th/15th/16th in the Premier League... There has to be something that gets them going, and if that doesn't happen quickly then everyone knows the rules when it comes to football management.' He also stressed that Amorim 'knows, he believes, and he will either keep or lose his job,' calling it a weekend that could decide his future.
The club's public stance remains supportive, but Daily Mail Sport notes that several United players have been uneasy with the Portuguese coach's approach even after ten months in the role. United spent about £236 million in the summer, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens, in an attempt to underpin Amorim's system. Yet results have not followed. Attacks on the field have been paired with personnel changes away from the squad: Alejandro Garnacho left for Chelsea, Antony joined Real Betis, while Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund have gone out on loan to Barcelona, Aston Villa, and Napoli respectively. Tyrell Malacia is the only senior squad member still at Old Trafford.
Rashford, however, has had moments of revival, scoring twice for Barcelona to beat Newcastle 2-1 in the Champions League on Thursday night. The forward's dip in form at United has been cited as a concern by some observers, though his spell away from Old Trafford has sparked a run of form elsewhere.
Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports after United's loss to City, warned that a relegation‑zone start would put Amorim under unsustainable pressure. 'Man Utd are 14th, we're only four games in,' Neville said. 'We can't be getting into October where Man Utd are 14th or 15th in the league otherwise the manager will be in trouble. They have to start winning quickly.' He added that a defeat to Chelsea next weekend could leave United as low as 15th or 16th, a situation he described as dangerous given the club's expenditure and the pre-season expectations. 'There's got to be a turnaround pretty quickly, and the manager's idea has got to land very quickly with the players,' Neville said. 'I'm worried about the manager, I'm worried about what's going to happen in this next few weeks. It's not a time for panic, but I've seen this before, we've seen this film.'
With Manchester United's season already at a crossroads, attention will turn to whether Amorim can reverse the slide against Chelsea and restore momentum before the calendar turns to October. The outcome could shape not only his future at Old Trafford but the trajectory of a rebuilding project that has produced as much friction as fanfare since the summer transfer window closed.
