New Delhi: Mike Phelan has raised serious doubts about Ruben Amorim’s suitability for the Manchester United managerial job, suggesting that the club might be repeating the same mistakes with yet another manager lacking top-level experience. In an interview with The AthleticPhelan compared Amorim’s hiring to that of Erik ten Hag, noting the similarities in their profiles — both having been successful at clubs like Sporting and Ajax, but without experience managing at the very top of European football.
Phelan, who was a key figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s success, pointed out that the qualifications of Amorim and Ten Hag are strikingly similar, despite both having built strong reputations at their respective clubs.
The former assistant manager pointed out the similarities in an interview with The Athletic“Everything leading up to it with Amorim and Ten Hag seems like the same talk.”. While Amorim has proved his tactical capabilities at Sporting, Phelan questioned whether the 39-year-old can handle the intense pressure and expectations at a club like United, where history demands immediate success.
It’s done.
Welcome to Manchester United, Ruben Amorim 🇵🇹🤝🔴#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 1, 2024
Phelan’s concerns don’t stop at Amorim’s experience; they also highlight a recurring issue with United’s managerial choices in the post-Ferguson era. “You wonder whether Manchester United need a seriously experienced manager,” he added.
Reflecting on the struggles of previous managers like Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Phelan believes the problem is not just the coach but also the club’s wider structure. Both Rangnick and Solskjaer had managerial experience, yet still faced difficulties because of a lack of support from a solid executive team.
Phelan worries that, much like with Ten Hag, Amorim may be set up to fail if the correct systems and resources aren’t in place. With INEOS now running the club’s football operations, the hope is that improved structure — with key figures like Chief Executive Omar Berrada and Sporting Director Dan Ashworth — will finally give the manager the tools he needs. However, Phelan remains uncertain whether United’s squad can adapt to Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system, which proved successful at Sporting.
While the club has made strides in reorganising its management, Phelan is sceptical whether Amorim will be the right man to lead United back to the top. The pressure is on the 39-year-old to prove he can succeed where so many others have faltered. As INEOS takes charge of the club’s operations, only time will tell if the new structure will help Amorim deliver the results United desperately need.
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