Ruben Amorim showed his true colours with comment about sacked Man Utd boss

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Since replacing Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has always spoken about the Dutchman with genuine respect. That was clear just a few weeks after he arrived at Old Trafford, when he showed real class by publicly praising his predecessor as "one of the best."

At the time, United were struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League table - a position they would ultimately occupy for the remainder of the season. At a press conference in November last year, Amorim was asked whether managing United was an "impossible" job.

The Portuguese coach dismissed that notion, but admitted it was among the toughest jobs in football, noting that several talented and experienced managers before him had tried - and failed - to restore the club to its former glory.

"You have here different types of coaches: the guys that won everything like Van Gaal and Mourinho, the new ones that knew the club inside out like Solskjaer, then one of the best outside the top five leagues - Ten Hag," Amorim said.

"We have to improve as a club and acknowledge we have to win games. You have different coaches, the same results. We will try to do the Ineos way, my way."

It's been exactly a year since Ten Hag was dismissed by United. During just over two years in charge, the former Ajax boss ended the club's long wait for silverware, lifting both the FA Cup and the League Cup . Yet his reign was ultimately defined by inconsistency.

Flashes of promise were too often overshadowed by prolonged dips in form - and by 2024 Ten Hag was fighting to keep his job. A surprise FA Cup final victory over Manchester City merely delayed the inevitable, with the Dutchman finally dismissed following United's dismal start to the 2024/25 season.

Amorim hasn't really been able to stop the rot. Last season, the Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League - their lowest position in club history. They also suffered heartbreak in the Europa League final, losing to Tottenham and missing out on a crucial route back into the Champions League .

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Like Ten Hag a year earlier, the former Sporting CP boss began the campaign under intense pressure. But despite a rocky start, United's form has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks.

They've won three consecutive matches, claiming victories over Sunderland , Liverpool and Brighton . Next up is a trip to Nottingham Forest - and a win there would mark four in a row for the first time in nearly two years.

Whether this is a temporary blip or a sign that things are finally moving in the right direction under Amorim remains to be seen. But the 40-year-old can ill-afford to slip back into inconsistency.

As Ten Hag's tenure showed, prolonged poor form rarely goes unpunished at United. This makes the current period crucial, with Amorim aiming to maintain momentum and prove once and for all that he is the right man to restore United to its former glory.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

After all, he certainly believes he is. "I truly believe I'm the right guy for this job. I really don't know the biggest challenge [here] - I will find out during the next months," he told reporters in November last year.

"I'm a little bit of a dreamer, and I believe in myself, I also believe in the club. We have the same idea, the same mindset, so that can help, but I truly believe in the players also. I know you guys don't believe a lot in these players.

"But I believe a lot. We have room to improve, I want to try new things. You guys think it's not possible; I think it's possible. We will see in the end."

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.