Chris Sutton has shared his views on Ruben Amorim’s challenging start as Manchester United manager, expressing confidence that the Portuguese coach is not at immediate risk of losing his job. However, Sutton emphasized the urgent need for the players to stop making “under-12s” level mistakes to give Amorim a real chance of improving the team’s fortunes.
Since his appointment on November 11th, replacing Erik ten Hag after his high-profile move from Sporting CP, Amorim has faced a tough initiation at Old Trafford. In his first ten games, Manchester United have lost five, been eliminated from the EFL Cup, and fallen to 14th place in the Premier League. Their most recent defeat, a 2-0 loss to Wolves, has left them dangerously close to the relegation zone, far from the coveted top-four spots.
Despite these disappointing results, Sutton believes Amorim’s job is safe for now. However, he was critical of the squad’s performances, particularly the repeated errors by goalkeepers Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir. Sutton pointed out their costly mistakes in recent matches against Wolves and Tottenham, noting that such errors have hindered Amorim’s efforts to stabilize the team.
In his BBC Sport predictions column, Sutton bluntly stated, “I’m not worried about Amorim being sacked, but it’s almost impossible for a manager to succeed when his goalkeeper concedes directly from a corner. That’s schoolboy football—something you’d expect in under-12s matches, not in the Premier League. Yet, Manchester United have made this mistake twice in two weeks. It’s unacceptable at this level.”
Looking back on his previous assessments, Sutton admitted that he had been too optimistic. “Last week, I predicted a draw at Wolves because I didn’t want to upset United fans who already give me plenty of stick on social media. But honestly, I was too kind. The way they’re playing right now, they deserve all the criticism they’re getting,” he confessed.
Sutton also made it clear that the club’s current struggles cannot be solely blamed on Amorim. Given the short time he’s had to implement his vision and make changes, Sutton acknowledged that the team is still far from where it needs to be. “Right now, this Manchester United side is just a poor team. Amorim needs time and the chance to bring in his own players, but for now, the reality is that they’re miles away from their goals,” he said.
Sutton’s comments highlight the considerable challenges Amorim faces as he works through a tough start to his Manchester United tenure. While the manager has the club’s support for the time being, significant on-pitch improvements are essential to ease the growing pressure and avoid a potential crisis.
