Manchester United had a so-called “plan” in place ahead of their Premier League clash against Sunderland, and it involved Ruben Amorim and the implications of a heavy defeat.
Manchester United Secure Vital Win to Ease Ruben Amorim Pressure, Romano Clarifies Managerial Speculation
Coming into Saturday’s crucial clash at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim faced mounting pressure following a poor start to the 2025–26 campaign. With three defeats from their first six league matches, reports had linked the Portuguese manager with the sack if Manchester United failed to overcome newly promoted Sunderland, managed by Regis Le Bris.
The Telegraph suggested that a growing number of players were “losing faith” in Amorim’s ability to turn things around on the pitch, while concerns were raised over the impact of inconsistent results on squad confidence.
However, United responded on the field, claiming a deserved 2–0 victory thanks to first-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko, providing much-needed relief for Amorim and the squad.
A few hours after the match, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano offered insight into United’s approach and plans regarding their under-pressure head coach. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained:
“Manchester United won against Sunderland and effectively closed all speculation, at least for the next few weeks, around Ruben Amorim. They head into the international break much more relaxed.
“The new goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, made his debut and kept a clean sheet — a very positive start for him and a solid result for Amorim.
“As I’ve mentioned before, United were never planning to sack Amorim unless something extraordinary happened, like a heavy defeat by three, four, or five goals. A narrow loss would not have led to dismissal — the plan was to support him.”
Romano also addressed recent rumours linking other managers to the Old Trafford hot seat. While names such as Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, and recently sacked Graham Potter have circulated, even former England manager Gareth Southgate was mentioned in media speculation.
Romano clarified the situation, stating:
“United’s message was clear: they never contacted other managers. While Southgate has a good relationship with INEOS, there were no negotiations. The club wanted to show their full support to Amorim.”
With the win over Sunderland and reassurance from the hierarchy, Amorim can now take Manchester United into the international break with some breathing room, focusing on stabilising results and preparing for the busy remainder of the season.
