Ruben Amorim given encouraging Man Utd verdict just days after shock exit confession

Manchester United's season continues to sway from one low to another and now is . The Red Devils slipped to 16th with their loss to on Sunday.

A worst ever finish was confirmed several weeks ago but the team appear determined to sink even further. Their record at Old Trafford makes for grim reading and Amorim looks to be out of answers.

He claimed that he shoulders the responsibility and maybe he wasn't the man to take United forward following their latest defeat. He's since admitted he's embarrassed by the state of affairs as the 40-year-old, who was highly-rated before coming to England, struggles to turn around the club's fortunes.

The has provided some hope and United can claim a trophy in Bilbao next week should they beat . That would come with revenue, but those in the club have admitted that it won't salvage what has been a poor season.

It certainly leaves Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the United hierarchy with a decision to make. They made a clanger by retaining Erik ten Hag, handing him a new deal and then sacking him within six months so they will be loathed to get another managerial call wrong.

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Whilst Amorim is not inspiring confidence, will a summer transfer window and a full pre-season help? Or is he already doomed? Mirror Football's writers have their say on whether the Portuguese man should stay or go.

John Cross - No

But the warning signs are very clear! Amorim is clearly a very good coach and came with a huge reputation. And has a habit of ruining reputations! It can eat good managers up - and spit them out.

Two big things worry me. His tactical inflexibility. That is ridiculous. He’s so wedded to a back three that he’d rather play that and lose than actually be adaptable and go to a system that suits his current players. It’s a huge weakness on his make up. Players make systems, not the other way round.

His constant negativity. He makes good headlines and I’m not about to tell him to stop! But Sunday’s message that he’d quit if results don’t improve next year, didn’t even feel remotely fresh. He says something similar every week. That hardly lifts the players. Maybe he’s trying to lower expectations but I’m not sure it works.

They must stick with him into next season. United would love that to be with Champions League qualification which would be a game changer. But even if they lose the Europa final, they can’t ditch him so quickly.

Andy Dunn - No

Of all Amorim’s mistakes this season, the biggest one was taking the job when he did. Talk about a poisoned chalice. And while he has to take a good portion of responsibility for Manchester United’s embarrassing domestic form, he inherited a squad that is barely fit for Premier League purposes.

That he has got the same squad to the final of the Europa League - going unbeaten in that competition - is a minor miracle and should make him immune from dismissal this summer. Amorim needs a pre-season to get at least some of the players he wants - easier said than done - and he needs a pre-season to get the current players fit.

Of all the big issues he faces, the deficiencies in fitness and physicality of this United squad is right up there amongst them - and Amorim will crack the whip ahead of next season. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is clearly not averse to sacking people but Amorim should not be on his list.

Neil McLeman - No

Amorim did not want to take the Manchester United job mid-season in November - and his judgement has been proved right. HIs first domestic campaign has been horrendous with so many of the squad he inherited simply not suitable for his playing style

But the Portuguese, 40, was the best young coach in Europe last year and six months at Old Trafford does not make him the worst. He has clearly been shocked by the poor standards at Manchester United and some of his statements have been shockingly honest - but also true. Amorin will be sacked if Premier League results continue.

But winning the Europa League and using the Champions League money to invest in new players - and a full pre-season to drill his squad - will see an immediate improvement next term. Otherwise it is back to square one again. But the recent history at Old Trafford suggests they will spare their manager this summer - and then sack him in the autumn anyway.

Daniel Orme - No

The remit of any incoming manager - particularly mid-season - is to improve the fortunes of their side. Has Amorim done that? Not really.

If anything, the Red Devils’ dismal season has gotten even worse over recent weeks. There’s been no real sign of development at Old Trafford over the six months that Amorim has been at the helm and that should be a real worry for club chiefs.

But there is of course one saving grace. United could waltz out of Bilbao this month with a trophy under their arm and a ticket back into the Champions League. And that will go a long way to helping Amorim bring in the players that he wants this summer, which MAY change the entire trajectory of the Portuguese’s stint at the club.

There’s also no point sacking him and putting United back at square one. Given the money spent, it would be a misstep to invest even more in sacking Amorim and finding his potential replacement.

He should be given a stay of execution for now. But should things fail to improve heading into next season then this debate should definitely re-emerge.

Mike Walters - No

Sacking another manager will solve United's problems like installing traffic lights on the M60 will cure traffic jams.

Amorim had misgivings about joining the club mid-season because he needed time to bed in his 3-4-3 shape and that's not easy when you are losing at home to West Ham, , , and Palace with no time to implement your philosophy on the training ground.

Winning the Europa League would paper over a lot of cracks, but it would also bring in upwards of £50million in revenue - and since money is the language Sir Jim and the Old Trafford cabal understand most, they are better off sticking with Amorim if he delivers a trophy.

The United manager's raw honesty has not helped his own cause, but at least he speaks the truth: This is the worst team in the club's history and they are embarrassing.

Give him key signings down the spine of the team - Jarrad Branthwaite and Viktor Gyokeres for starters - and the line on the graph should turn upwards sharply. But if Amorim leaves, and United spin the merry-go-round again, who's going to install the winning culture that's been missing since Fergie retired?

Scott Trotter - No

As much as I have reservations about philosophy having priority over getting the best out of a squad of players, it would only add to Manchester United's chaos if they parted ways with Amorim. The season has been a disaster and was heading that way without his influence.

The Portuguese coach has been employed for his style and pedigree and was even persuaded to come in early, rather than with a full pre-season to work in. It has been far from ideal.

The 40-year-old has a lot to prove but should only be judged by the after an extensive pre-season and some activity in the transfer market which actually shapes the team into the framework he wants. All of that is not to say Amorim has earned any credit, though European outings perhaps offer some hope. United could easily find themselves in the same situation as earlier this season.

Sam Meade - No

It isn't time to twist yet, but ultimately these kind of results can only carry on for so longer. Whilst I believe Amorim is a good manager this currently doesn't seem like a good fit.

The red side of Manchester has been a graveyard for managers and players and I think plenty around Europe would still hold Amorim in a positive light, largely because of what he did at Sporting Lisbon.

His loyalty to his philosophy has veered into naivety at times, he could've gone more conventional, but clearly he's prepared to die on the hill he sits on. There's no getting away from the fact these United players aren't good enough to do what he wants to do.

But looking at it from an ownership perspective, Ratcliffe and co have already got rid of Ten Hag and their eye for a manager is clearly in question. Equally, if Amorim was given the boot, why would any potential manager put their hat into the ring knowing you might not even get a summer with your players.

Tom Victor - No

If Manchester United are prepared to sack Ruben Amorim after six months and a cup final then it was a waste of time to appoint him in the first place. It was no secret that his style and the club’s personnel didn’t exactly sync up, and there was never going to be a quick fix.

Even if United lose to Spurs in Bilbao, Amorim deserves a summer window to work on building the squad he wants. They were prepared to back Erik ten Hag last summer when the cracks were already visible, so this is the least they can do for his successor.

None of us can know why the league form has been so far from what United have shown in Europe, but at least in the latter there have been signs this group of players wants to fight for the boss. There’s no point ripping it all up to start again.

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