‘Someone’s been fined’ – Man United suspicions raised as Ruben Amorim sack verdict given

“There’s been a lot of people talking, saying ‘Oh, Ruben Amorim, give him the sack now.’ Before a ball was kicked, everyone was optimistic, and I’m the same. Optimistic and hopeful. I’m hopeful that we’re gonna improve.”

“You can’t sack someone after three games; it doesn’t make sense,” he continued, speaking before the Burnley win. “You’ve allowed them to invest in three new strikers, and you’re going to say after three games, when they’re not even fully fit, that you’re going to sack someone.

“It doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t see INEOS doing that. No way. I can’t see it. They’re more sensible than that. There are emotional people who pay good, hard-earned money who deserve to be entertained and deserve better performances and results. I get that.

“We all feel like that. But let’s not be stupid. Let’s not jump on the bandwagon and start getting all emotional about it, and say ‘Right, I’m gonna start a vendetta.’

“Yes, there have been bad results, but when you try to turn things around at football clubs, especially one the size of Manchester United, that’s been in turmoil and on a downward spiral for many years now, 10 or 12 years, do you think it’s going to take six months or a year to turn that around? No. If we just keep changing managers every six months or every year, it’s going to be the same thing for the next twenty years.”

Many have questioned Amorim’s tactics and unrelenting use of wide wing-backs, but Ferdinand does not buy into any criticism of the head coach’s lack of formational change, as he added: “The formation has been an issue for a lot of people. ‘Should there be some flexibility in that?’

“But this manager will tell you, ‘Yeah, we may start with three at the back. But there are moments in the game that we are playing four at the back, and we’re shifting round.’ It changes in terms of shape in and out of possession.

“I think you’ve got to allow the club to go through a period of pain if we feel there’s a chance to get through the other side, and you’re gonna see some sunlight. If you’re allowing the manager to spend the money that we have, allowing him to let people go, then there has to be an element of patience through turmoil, and that’s where we are right now.”

Amorim’s team narrowly defeated Burnley by three points, allowing them to end the week on a positive note after a difficult few days. Fernandes scored the game-winning goal from the penalty spot in the last seconds after Despire twice gave up a one-goal lead, giving the team their first win of the year.

One drawback, though, was Matheus Cunha’s injury. It’s unclear how serious the Brazilian’s injury is, but he was sent off in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring strain.

Speaking after the final whistle, Amorim admitted his concern at the forward’s injury. “It was hard to lose a player like Cunha and Mason Mount – Mount played like 30 minutes with an injury,” the United head coach said.

Asked if they were long-term issues, he replied: “I don’t know, I don’t know but I’m concerned about that. They are so important for us, so we’ll see.”