Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given his assessment of head coach Ruben Amorim during the club’s recent underwhelming performances.
Currently, Manchester United is positioned 14th in the Premier League standings, having accumulated only 34 points from 28 matches.
Since Amorim’s arrival four months ago, Manchester United has secured only 11 victories in 26 games.
However, United chief Ratcliffe maintains that Amorim is still the appropriate choice for the manager position, despite the challenging beginning.
Speaking to the Times, the British billionaire stated: "I believe he has performed admirably given the circumstances, especially considering the squad’s availability and his mid-season appointment.
"Everyone anticipates immediate success, but that’s unrealistic. Looking at yesterday’s performance [Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal], it was truly impressive. The team’s effort and commitment were undeniable.
"Considering the bench, many unfamiliar names were present due to half the squad being unavailable to Ruben.
"Among Manchester United’s top eight highest-paid players, 50 percent are currently unavailable for selection. Players like Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Marcus Rashford are absent, along with Jadon Sancho and numerous other injuries. In light of this, I believe he has done an exceptional job."
"Coaches are naturally emotional, and Ruben is no different. He is a young coach and not without imperfections. He needs to excel both in public appearances and on the field, which is part of the job.
"He’s a young individual new to the Premier League, having joined mid-season and working in a non-native language.
"We should give him some slack. Criticize me if you must, but give Ruben a break. I believe he is a capable individual, working diligently, and achieving significant results."
When questioned about Amorim’s capacity to guide Manchester United back to its former glory, Ratcliffe affirmed: "Yes, I genuinely do.
"I have a high regard for Ruben. He is a very thoughtful person. I regularly visit the training ground to converse with Ruben.
"We often share coffee, where I point out areas needing improvement, and he jokingly tells me to ‘f*** off.’ I appreciate his candor."
Ratcliffe also mentioned in a BBC interview that some United players are "overpaid" and defended his contentious cost-cutting measures.
