Former Manchester United defender says the head coach will have “no excuses” for abject performances next season
Rio Ferdinand does not think the result of the Europa League final will determine the future of Ruben Amorim at the club but warns that there will be little margin for errors going into next season.
United’s 1-0 loss on Wednesday night, decided by a Brennan Johnson strike, capped off what has been a chaotic and underwhelming season at Old Trafford, with United having lost 15 in 41 games under Amorim. With Champions League qualification now off the table and questions swirling about the squad’s future, many fans and pundits doubt if the Portuguese manager has what it takes to lead the club forward.
Ferdinand, however, believes the answer lies in stability, and that Amorim deserves the opportunity to start fresh with a full pre-season and a proper recruitment drive. Speaking on his Rio Reacts show, the former United defender said that the disappointment of the final should not derail Amorim’s project.
The Portuguese coach only arrived mid-season under less-than-ideal circumstances, and Ferdinand feels it would be unfair to judge him based on one result.
“I don’t think the result will determine his future,” Ferdinand said. “I don’t think any type of result or performance will affect him going into next season. I think he was definitely assured of that.”
Indeed, Amorim was reportedly hesitant to take the job when first approached, citing the lack of pre-season preparation as a major concern. Ferdinand echoed that sentiment: “He didn’t want to come in the first place at this part of the season that they got him because he knew he wouldn’t have had a pre-season. He knows the importance of a pre-season.”
Looking ahead, the former defender pointed out that the club’s absence from European competition next season could actually play to Amorim’s advantage. With fewer matches and midweek distractions, the manager will have more time on the training ground to instil his philosophy and mould the squad.
“If you can switch it and try and find a positive from not being in the Champions League next season and not being in Europe is that he is going to get more time to coach the players on the pitch, less games, less midweek games… then there’s no excuses.”
But while Amorim’s path forward might be clearer now, Ferdinand didn’t let the players off the hook. Fans have continued to show up in droves for games despite a dismal season, and the club legend called on the squad to repay that loyalty with performances worthy of the shirt.
“These fans, me and Scholes were sitting there and some of these players are getting songs sung after them. The manager’s got a song sung after him. They’re languishing in the league. They’re coming out in their thousands still and supporting this team.
“These guys need to start giving them something to sing about and justifying why they got there.”
