Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a scathing assessment of his squad, labeling them the “worst team” in the club’s history after a dismal 3-1 home defeat to Brighton on Sunday, CNN reports.
The loss, United’s 10th of a disastrous season, leaves the once-great club languishing in 13th place in the Premier League.
Amorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag in November, didn’t hold back in his post-match press conference.
“We are getting a new coach that is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that,” he said. “I know we can succeed, but we need to survive this moment. Because I’m not naive and I know that we need to survive now.”
While his words may seem hyperbolic, Amorim’s assessment isn’t far off. Since his arrival, the Red Devils have only managed 11 league points out of a possible 33, putting them on track for their worst ever Premier League finish. Currently, United are closer to the relegation zone than the top of the league, a stark contrast to their former glory. The club last faced relegation in 1974.
Amorim, who had a successful stint at Sporting Clube de Portugal, was brought in to implement a new system and usher in an era of success, but consistency has been a major problem. Despite occasional glimpses of brilliance, the team has struggled to maintain form, suffering embarrassing defeats to teams like Bournemouth, Wolves, and Newcastle.
The inconsistency has frustrated fans, with the team displaying contrasting performances. They beat local rivals Manchester City 2-1 and earned a 2-2 draw with league-leading Liverpool, while also defeating Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup. However, these high points have been interspersed with disappointing losses.
Amorim has acknowledged that his players are still struggling to fully grasp his system but insists that he will not change his approach, even if that means further short-term setbacks.
However, there may be some cause for hope. The last time Manchester United lost 10 of their first 22 league games was in the 1989-90 season, when a young Alex Ferguson was in charge. Ferguson would later lead the club to 13 league titles.
Amorim and his players have an opportunity to turn their season around, starting with a Europa League match against Rangers on Thursday, followed by a Premier League game against Fulham on Sunday.
