Dan Ashworth exit ‘not the best’ for Man United, says Ruben Amorim

LONDON – Ruben Amorim admitted that Dan Ashworth’s surprise departure from his role as Manchester United sporting director was “not the best situation” for the troubled club.

The Red Devils announced on Dec 8 that Ashworth will leave Old Trafford after only 159 days in the post following his move from Newcastle United in the summer.

The 53-year-old was expected to spearhead an overhaul of United’s underachieving team, alongside new boss Amorim, who was hired from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.

Instead, his departure raises fresh questions about United’s future under co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, a figure who has had little success with his investments in football.

The Red Devils, who visit Manchester City on Dec 15, are languishing in 13th spot in the Premier League after last weekend’s 3-2 home defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Ahead of the Dec 12 Europa League game at Viktoria Plzen, which kicked off after press time, Amorim faced the media for the first time since Ashworth’s exit and conceded it was hardly ideal.

“The first thing I want to say is that since the first day I felt great support from the ownership,” the 39-year-old said.

“From Omar (Berrada, chief executive), from Dan also, from Jason (Wilcox, technical director).

“Dan was part of that, and I really felt support from Dan also. But this is football and sometimes these things happen. It happens with players, with coaches.

“I know that it’s not the best situation but the important thing is we continue in our way. The path is really clear for everybody and I think this can happen in football.”

It was reported that Ashworth did not see eye to eye with Ratcliffe, with the former wanting an English manager – primarily Gareth Southgate – to replace ten Hag and was left out of the decision to appoint Amorim.

Asked if he is concerned that United were more unstable than when he first arrived a month ago, Amorim added: “I don’t think so. Like I said, I’ve felt the support from everybody, so one person leaving don’t change nothing.

“Of course, it’s a bad situation, because we are talking about a human being, a professional, that supports us as a team. But the most important thing is that your vision is really clear and that vision don’t change if one person leaves.”

United are looking to bounce back from successive league defeats against Arsenal and Forest. Those losses have fuelled talk that Amorim needs to make major signings in the January transfer window.

But he also said: “I’m really focused on to see my players and to understand my players.

“Every detail counts and we have to be very clear first in the profiles, arrange all the process and then go to that phase of buying and selling players.

“We have to improve as a team... before thinking of buying or selling players.”

Meanwhile, former United defender John O’Shea has warmed to Amorim, but warned that the Portuguese must get his ideas across quickly to turn around the club’s form after just two wins from five games in all competitions.

O’Shea, who played for United from 1999-2011, said the players had to be convinced of the manager’s capabilities.

“In terms of a personality I really like (Amorim),” he said.

“(But) you’re not going to get away with just being able to talk well in the media.

“You have to have the respect of the players when you go in and try and explain how you’re going to approach a certain team, why you’re going to do this today, why we were doing this last week and not doing it this week.

“You need to get that balanced approach right.”

The 43-year-old, who won five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with United, also said Amorim will be keen to start shaping his squad more to his liking as early as the January transfer window.

“I’m sure Ruben will be thinking about the January transfer window, as much as he’s not saying he is, and I’m sure the club will be doing all they can to help him,” he added. AFP, REUTERS