BREAKING NEWS: “Ruben Amorim Was Never the Problem” — Gareth Southgate Names the One Manchester United Player Dragging the Club Backward
Former England manager Gareth Southgate has made a stunning and brutally honest claim about Manchester United’s ongoing struggles, insisting that Ruben Amorim was never the real issue at Old Trafford. Instead, Southgate has boldly pointed the finger at one particular Manchester United player, accusing him of dragging the club’s legacy “into the mud.”
Speaking during a candid football discussion, Southgate did not hold back as he addressed the narrative surrounding Amorim’s short and turbulent spell at Manchester United. According to the former England boss, the Portuguese manager became an easy scapegoat, while deeper problems inside the dressing room were ignored.
“Ruben Amorim was never the problem at Manchester United,” Southgate said. “I’ll boldly say it. The real issue is this particular player who has been dragging the club backward for years now. Managers come and go, but the same problems remain.”
Southgate went on to identify Jadon Sancho as the player he believes has had the most damaging impact on the club’s progress. While careful to acknowledge Sancho’s talent, Southgate questioned his mentality, professionalism, and influence within the squad.
“This is not about ability,” Southgate explained. “Jadon Sancho is a gifted footballer, no doubt. But football at a club like Manchester United is about responsibility, mentality, and standards. When a player with his profile fails to meet those standards consistently, it affects everything — the dressing room, the culture, and the results.”
Sancho’s time at Old Trafford has been marked by flashes of quality but overshadowed by inconsistency, off-field controversies, and repeated clashes with management. Despite arriving as a marquee signing expected to define a new era, he has struggled to justify his reputation or fee, often becoming a symbol of United’s wider issues.
Southgate stressed that Amorim’s ideas and coaching methods were not the problem, arguing that the former manager was undermined by players unwilling or unable to fully commit.
“Amorim tried to impose discipline and structure,” Southgate continued. “But when senior or high-profile players resist that, the manager loses authority. That’s exactly what happened. You can’t rebuild a club while carrying passengers.”
The comments have reignited debate among Manchester United supporters, many of whom have long questioned whether certain players wield too much power at the club. Southgate’s remarks appear to support the belief that United’s problems run deeper than tactics or managers, pointing instead to accountability within the squad.
Crucially, Southgate dismissed the idea that changing managers alone would fix United’s decline.
“You can sack managers every year, but if the same players remain and the same behaviours are tolerated, nothing changes,” he said. “That’s why the legacy keeps taking hits. Manchester United used to be feared. Now teams come to Old Trafford believing they’ll get something.”
Southgate also emphasized that successful clubs protect their culture above individual reputations.
“At elite clubs, no player is bigger than the badge,” he added. “When that line gets blurred, the club suffers. Simple as that.”
Manchester United have not responded to Southgate’s comments, and Sancho himself has remained silent. However, the remarks are likely to intensify scrutiny around the player’s future at Old Trafford, especially as the club continues to rebuild following Amorim’s exit.
For many fans, Southgate’s words echo a long-standing frustration — that Manchester United’s decline cannot be pinned solely on the touchline. Instead, it may require difficult decisions, including moving on high-profile names, to restore standards and identity.
One thing is clear: by openly defending Amorim and naming a player he believes is dragging the club backward, Gareth Southgate has reignited a debate that Manchester United can no longer avoid. If the club truly wants to reclaim its legacy, accountability — not excuses — may finally be unavoidable.
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