Ruben Amorim’s reign at Manchester United has been riddled with challenges, with mounting criticism over poor results and underperforming players. After taking over from Erik ten Hag in November, Amorim’s early months in charge have been far from promising.
Despite occasional highlights like a 2-2 draw against Liverpool and an FA Cup victory over Arsenal, United’s performances have largely worsened.
The team has lost five of their last seven Premier League matches, leaving them 14 points outside the Champions League places and precariously just ten points above the relegation zone.
Their latest setback came in a 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford, marking Brighton’s third consecutive win at the iconic stadium.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana, signed for over £40 million from Inter Milan in 2023, has become a focal point of criticism following a costly mistake in the Brighton match.
The Cameroonian, who was expected to be a reliable No. 1, has struggled with inconsistency, prompting former United striker Louis Saha to call his performances “unacceptable.”
Saha didn’t mince words: “Apart from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo, every player should feel their position is under threat. Mistakes are happening across the squad, and it’s unacceptable.
Onana has shown he’s not reliable, and no one should be guaranteed a starting spot unless they prove themselves.”
On the other hand, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart defended Onana, suggesting the goalkeeper’s struggles are due to the lack of support from his teammates and the overall system.
“I feel for Onana,” Hart explained. “At Ajax and Inter Milan, he thrived in systems where he always had options. At United, he’s surrounded by players who aren’t moving or supporting him. The atmosphere around him isn’t helping either. He’s hesitant because there’s no trust in the system.”
Hart elaborated further: “To play out from the back, the whole team needs to buy into the system. At the moment, Onana looks isolated, and the lack of cohesion is exposing him. This isn’t just on him – the whole squad and coaching staff are failing him.”
The pressure on Amorim to turn things around is mounting, with critics pointing to systemic issues in the team’s setup. United’s next chance for redemption comes on Thursday night when they face Rangers in the Europa League. Both Amorim and Onana will be under intense scrutiny to deliver a much-needed response.