Ruben Amorim is feeling the weight of expectation at Manchester United, as he struggles to provide improved performances in the Premier League – but the club still hold confidence in their head coach
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
18:21, 19 Sep 2025
Ruben Amorim’s future at Manchester United is in question(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Manchester United sources have denied that the club has been in touch with Michael Carrick as a potential short-term successor to Ruben Amorim, following a dismal start to the new Premier League season.
It is also claimed that Jose Mourinho was not considered to succeed his fellow countryman ahead of him accepting his new job with Benfica.
Amorim has failed to impress since arriving at Old Trafford last November, guiding United to a lacklustre 15th-place finish in the Premier League last term in a trophy-barren campaign.
While the 40-year-old may have been excused by the board for a lack of results given he was forced to utilise the squad he largely inherited from Erik ten Hag, he will not be able to rely on that justification after spending big this summer.
With the full backing of the United top brass, Amorim spent more than £200million on the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens with hopes of fine tuning his patented 3-4-3 formation and demanding style of play.
New acquisitions seemingly aren’t the key to Amorim’s issues with the club, however, given that the Portuguese tactician has achieved just one win from his opening four league games, as well as suffered an embarrassing exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two Grimsby Town.
While many United fans will be growing tired of seeing their club struggle, given under Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary tenure they were one of the most formidable forces in the world, the board haven’t given up hope on Amorim just yet. That’s despite recent unfounded claims that executives have shown an interest in other managers as of late.
It had been suggested club legend Carrick had been sounded out to replace Amorim in the event of a mid-season change, while it was also claimed that Mourinho was being considered for a return to the north west of England. However, as per talkSPORT, sources close to the club have refuted that either claim has any evidence of being stood up.
Carrick enjoyed a brief stint as the club’s caretaker manager in 2021 in the wake of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit, before enjoying a three-year stint with Middlesbrough in the Championship. He has been out of a job since June, when he was dismissed by Boro after suffering a 10th-place finish in the league.
Sources claim Jose Mourinho was NOT approached by Manchester United before joining Benfica(Image: AFP or licensors)
Mourinho, meanwhile, was at the helm of the club between May 2016 and December 2018, leaving with a League Cup, a Community Shield and a Europa League title to his name. In the years since, he has worked with Spurs, Roma and Fenerbahce, and was this week appointed as Benfica’s new head coach following the dismissal of Bruno Lage.
While the United dressing room remains largely behind Amorim, talkSPORT add that senior players like Harry Maguire have made it clear to the squad that they are underperforming in league and cup competitions this term. Such self-criticism within the United camp could well come as a welcome relief to many fans.
United are set to return to Premier League action on Saturday, when they play host to an uneaten Chelsea at Old Trafford. With clashes against Liverpool and Brighton also landing in their next five outings, it could be an incredibly testing Autumn for Amorim.
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