Ruben Amorim offers to quit if Manchester United board wants new manager

BILBAO – Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said that he was confident he was still the right man for the job after the club’s woeful loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final on May 21, but would leave with no compensation if the club’s board believed otherwise.

Amorim and his men had hoped to salvage something from a dreadful season that has them languishing in 16th in the English Premier League with one game remaining. Instead, Brennan Johnson bundled in a first-half goal in a 1-0 win that clinched Spurs a spot in the Champions League next season – leaving United out of European football entirely.

“I am not going to be here defending myself. It is not my style. I cannot do it. It is really hard for me. So I have nothing to show to the fans and say, ‘I’m going to improve because of this, I have these problems’. I will not do nothing,” Amorim said.

“In this moment, it is a little bit of faith. Let’s see, I’m always open. If the board and the fans feel that I am not the right guy, I will go the next day without any conversation about compensation.”

Missing out on the Champions League is costly with United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe estimating the financial benefit of qualification between £80 million (S$138.5 million) and £100 million in broadcast, match-day and commercial income.

“It is tough for a club like us not to be in the Champions League but now we have to deal with that with a different plan, even with the market. But that means we have more time to think and work during the week and to be better in the Premier League. This will be our focus,” Amorim said.

“I know the pressure of the fans is going to be really short in the next season. But I guarantee you I will not quit, I will not go away, so I am really confident,” the 40-year-old added.

United played like a team more afraid to lose than one focused on winning on May 21, particularly in the first half, which proved costly as terrible defending led to Spurs’ goal.

The Red Devils fared better in the second half and threatened to equalise in the dying minutes with Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Luke Shaw all forcing terrific saves.

“We did not perform perfectly today, but we were better than the opponent. In the second half, we tried everything with the centre defenders wide, crosses, going inside the box. I think today was not the day,” Amorim said.

There have been questions about whether United have gone backwards since the Portuguese succeeded Erik ten Hag after the former manager’s sacking in late October.

“I don’t agree (that we are going backwards). We’ve had some bad results, but I think we have improved in certain areas. We were competitive in more games that we didn’t score in,” Amorim said.

United captain Bruno Fernandes has also followed his manager’s stance, offering to leave if the club need to cash in on him in order to rebuild. He said: “I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go. I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days...

“I keep my word in the same way. If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it is what it is and football sometimes is like this.”

The Portuguese midfielder, 30, also insisted that Amorim was still the right man to lead United, saying: “We know that the manager is looked at by the results. Obviously, we see more than that as players. For everyone, it will be about him bringing back the positivity... to fight for the big trophies. And we all agree that he’s the right man.”

Meanwhile, fullback Diogo Dalot called for “reflection” after the club’s miserable season. 

“It hurts when you see the fans like this. They’ve been with us every single time after the poor results that we had and the difficult season that we had,” Dalot told United’s website.

“So, it’s time for reflection. Everyone needs to reflect. And when it’s time to make decisions, make decisions. When it’s time to act, we act. And when it’s time for us to go on the pitch, we win games.” REUTERS