“Ruben is an amazing coach but there’s ONE particular problem affecting the club and that’s why I left…Amorim will never succeed if that problem is not rectified”: Manchester United’s legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained why Ruben Amorim is not doing well at the club
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows where things are going wrong for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United – and doesn’t believe it’s fully his fault.
The Red Devils have been woeful since the Portuguese coach was appointed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford. He has won just five of his 16 Premier League games so far, leaving United sitting 14th in the table.
A number of players have struggled to fit into Amorim’s stubborn 3-4-2-1 formation so far. And Solskjaer believes the issues start from the squad being made up of stars being signed under a host of previous managers.
Asked if there is too much of a sacking culture at Old Trafford by The Athletic, the Norwegian replied: “That’s for the people at the top (of United), but an issue is that the manager plays with the previous manager’s players.
“I just remember a great time at United apart from the last six weeks. Great people — and the culture is in the people. Going back to United was like going back to my family, like I’d never been away.
“But Besiktas also feels like a family club, with respect for each other. There are members of staff who’ve been here for 10, 20, 30 years.”
Solskjaer, 52, spent nearly three years at Old Trafford, going trophyless before he was eventually sacked in November 2021 following a shocking defeat to Watford. And while things went wrong for Solskjaer with United, he remains proud of the work he did at the club given the challenges he faced.
“Those last six weeks were hard, I can’t deny that, but we were also top of our Champions League group,” Solskjaer added. It was the two games against City and Watford that did it, but I maintain that finishing second and third in my two full seasons wasn’t bad given the level in the Premier League.
“We also reached a European final, but I see what Jose (Mourinho) means when he says that his best achievement was getting his United side to second in the league.”
Back to the present day, under-fire Amorim has a chance to make it back-to-back victories this season over the coming week. United take on Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday ahead of a clash with Arsenal in the Premier League a few days later.
