Ruben Amorim is under growing pressure to succeed at Manchester United after being backed by the board in the transfer market this summer, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly given him an ultimatum
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
17:26, 19 Sep 2025
Ruben Amorim will need to qualify for Europe this season(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim has reportedly been told that Manchester United must qualify for European football if he is to keep his job.
The Portuguese tactician hasn’t had the best start to his tenure at Old Trafford, guiding United to a lacklustre 15th-place finish in the Premier League last term after assuming his role as head coach in the wake of Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.
United also missed out on a crucial Europa League trophy which would have automatically secured their place in the Champions League this season, which makes the narrow 1-0 defeat by Tottenham in May’s final all the more painful.
After receiving the backing of the board this summer and being given a full pre-season tour to prepare his squad for the new campaign, Amorim’s run of poor form has bled into 2025/26. The 40-year-old has seen just one win from his side’s opening four fixtures, as well as an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to League Two outfit Grimsby Town last month.
While the board have confirmed that they’re not looking at handing Amorim his walking papers just yet, it is reported that he has been handed an ultimatum by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. As per talkSPORT, the United co-owner arrived at Carrington on Thursday and told Amorim that results need to improve on the pitch.
It is also said that Ratcliffe believes that Amorim’s current crop of talent are capable of achieving a top-five finish this term, despite Champions League football is not a stated goal for 2025/26. However, it is said that Amorim has received demands of qualifying for some form of European competition by season’s end.
It appears as though Amorim has taken a relaxed approach in the aftermath of his meeting with Ratcliffe, answering with a touch of humour when he was probed about what was discussed behind closed doors. He said during Friday’s pre-match press conference, joking: “He offered me a new contract.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly spoke with Ruben Amorim on Thursday(Image: Getty Images)
“No, it was normal things just to show the support, explain it’s a long season. This is a club with more pressure maybe than any in the world.
“Last year I was very critical of the way we played. Now I think we are playing well until the [penalty] boxes. We need to be more clinical. We are in a better place compared to last year but we need to win.”
United head into Saturday’s clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford with a patchy run of form. The club suffered a 1-0 loss to Arsenal on the Premier League’s opening weekend, before holding Fulham to a 1-1 draw the following week.
It appeared as though Amorim had finally found his stride when he successfully guided his side to a 3-2 win over Burnley ahead of the international break, only to return to a 3-0 loss at the hands of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium at the weekend, Phil Foden finding the scoresheet as Erling Haaland bagged a brace of his own.
Amorim will be well aware of the task at hand when United play host to Chelsea, given that the Blues have been in solid form under Enzo Maresca this season, unbeaten in the league with two wins and two draws to their name.
However, spirits may be low within the Chelsea camp, given they suffered a 3-1 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, while United have held the advantage of having a full week to iron out any issues from their last outing.
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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