Amorim sticks to his system as United endure 33-year start; Ratcliffe offers support

Ruben Amorim doubled down on his football philosophy on Thursday, insisting that not even the Pope will change (me) as Manchester United confronts their worst start to a season in 33 years. The under-fire manager had just hosted a high-level meeting with United owner Jim Ratcliffe at Carrington, where Ratcliffe flew in by helicopter for talks with Amorim, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, amid renewed questions over whether the club would tweak tactics to arrest an alarming run of results.

United’s slump was punctuated by a 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the Manchester derby, the latest setback that has intensified scrutiny of Amorim’s approach. In a day of public defiance, the Portuguese coach reiterated that his method would not be altered under pressure. “No, no, no. No one. Not even the Pope will change (me). This is my job. This is my responsibility. This is my life. So, I will not change that,” he said. He added that any evolution would come through careful, incremental steps rather than a wholesale shift in style. “There will be an evolution, but we need to make all the good steps. I’m doing things my way.”

On the day’s talks with Ratcliffe, Amorim joked that the owner had offered him a new contract, though he framed the exchange as part of a broader, long-term project. “No, it was a normal thing to show the support, explaining that it’s a long project, which he has said many times. We spoke about normal things with Omar and Jason. In this moment it’s normal for you to pay attention to that. This is the football club with maybe more pressure than any other in the world and we want to win.”

The derby also fed into a broader backdrop as Benfica’s presidential race loomed. Joao Noronha Lopes watched the Manchester derby with his entourage, signaling continued interest in Amorim should he become available. The incumbent Benfica president, Rui Costa, moved to shape the club’s future by replacing Bruno Lage with Jose Mourinho this week, a development Amorim openly treated with a mix of levity and resolve. “No guys, no contact. And then Mourinho is there. I’m Manchester United manager. Until something changes, and after that, for sure, if it’s next month, tomorrow, in 10 years, I will rest because I deserve it.”

Amorim’s emphasis on stability did not deter United from contemplating their next steps, with Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount set to return to the squad for the visit of Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday after missing the defeat to City through injury. The manager said the return of the duo would add quality and options as United seek to convert improving performances into results. “We are in a better place compared to last year but we need to win,” he said. “In the end, if you don’t win, it doesn’t matter. So I think it’s something mental and we need to change.”

Amorim’s broader message focused on mental toughness and belief. “Sometimes, what we call luck is the way we play the game with more belief. The teams that are winning have the feeling that something is going to happen. I think it’s Liverpool,” he said, before adding a sobering caveat. “Sometimes, with us, I feel the opposite. We are playing well, but something is going to go wrong in some moments.”

Even as Ratcliffe publicly backs the project, the manager’s insistence on sticking to his system laid bare a clash between short-term results and long-term philosophy. United, under Ratcliffe’s ownership, have repeatedly signaled a willingness to invest in a youth-driven, possession-based approach, while the executive’s presence at Carrington underscored the seriousness of the club’s attempt to navigate a season that has begun in chastening fashion. The presence of the derby’s political undertones—plus Benfica’s leadership chatter—has only added to the sense that United’s season could hinge on the balance between conviction and pragmatism. In the immediate term, the focus remains on Saturday’s home clash with Chelsea, a match that will test whether Amorim’s methods can translate into points on the board.