Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim shocked Old Trafford with his unusual post-match press conference.
After watching his team play to a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday, the Portuguese tactician moved away from tactical talk and made a “bombshell” about his authority, contract and future at the club.
With the January transfer window now open, tensions between the dugout and boardroom appear to have reached breaking point.
The mood changed dramatically when Ruben Amorim was asked about his relationship with Man United’s structure, particularly director of football Jason Wilcox and the scouting department.
Ruben Amorim rejects head coach label after shocking abuse
Appointed at the end of 2024 with the title of ‘head coach’, Amorim sharply rejected that label, fiercely defending his role.
“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United…not to be the coach of Manchester United, that’s clear.
“I know my name is not[Thomas]Tuchel,[Antonio]Conte or[Jose]Mourinho, but I am the manager of Manchester United and will remain so for 18 months or until the board decides to replace me.
“That was my point (Friday) and I want to be done with it. I’m not going to quit. I’m going to do my job until someone else gets here to replace me.”
Amorim made it clear here that as long as he is at the club, he will do things his way, hinting at his determination to stick to his preferred formation.
He continued, “I just want to say, I’m not just going to be a coach, I’m going to be a manager of this team, and I’ve been really clear about that.
“And it will be over in 18 months and then everyone will move on. That was the deal and that is my job…not to be a coach.
Amorim went further, taking aim at the club’s recruitment structure and “select information” leaked to the press.
He argued that every department, from scouts to athletic directors, needed to “do their jobs” while focusing on their own.
In the rant, which lasted several minutes, the 40-year-old referred to Gary Neville and other critics and suggested that “the club needs to change” if it cannot cope with external pressure.
“If people can’t stand Gary Nevils and the criticism and everything else, we need to change the club. I’m just saying that.
“I came here to be Manchester United manager, not to be a coach.
“An athletic director in any department, in the scouting department, has to do his job. I’m going to do my job for 18 months and then take the next step.”
Will Amorim remain at Man United beyond this season?
The most disturbing aspect of Mr. Amorim’s rant was his repeated references to an 18-month timeline.
By repeatedly saying he would finish the job within 18 months before “everyone moves on,” he has effectively put an expiration date on his term, which is currently scheduled to run until June 2027.
Although he has made it clear that he has “no intention of quitting”, suggestions that he and the club will part ways at the end of the 2026/27 season have left fans and pundits alike wondering whether his relationship with INEOS may be irreparable.
United are currently in fifth place in the Premier League and are struggling with stability, but Amorim’s explosive interview is likely to cause a stir behind the scenes.
