Head coach told club’s recruitment department to “do their job”; wanted to be “manager of Manchester United, not the coach”
Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United following an outburst on Sunday that seemed to suggest a disagreement with the club hierarchy over transfers.
After a 1-1 draw against Leeds United, the Portuguese coach told his bosses to “do their job”. It appeared they were unwilling to grant him funds to bolster his squad in the January transfer window.
Amorim also said: “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. I know my name is not Tuchel, Mourinho or Conte but I’m the manager.
“It’s going to be like this for 18 months or until the board decide to change. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”
Last week, Amorim said he was starting to understand that “if we have to play a perfect 3-4-3 we need to spend a lot of money and need time. I am starting to understand that is not going to happen”, before also saying there had been “no conversations” over January additions.
The 40-year-old had had mixed results in the first half of his full season at the club, but his side have struggled after losing up to seven first teamers, including ever-present captain Bruno Fernandes to injury and Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to the Africa Cup of Nations.
It seems his insistence on making moves in the transfer market strained his relationship with director of football Jason Wilcox, when there were already questions about tactical flexibility and given the background of poor results.
United are now searching for their seventh permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Assistant coach Darren Fletcher has been appointed as interim manager ahead of the game against Burnley on Wednesday.
