Ruben Amorim risks being sacked this weekend because of his stubborn devotion to his footballing ideals, Alan Shearer has warned.
Manchester United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on Saturday and could drop into in the relegation zone if results go against them.
United have made their worst start to a league campaign for 33 years, languishing 14th in the table with four points after four games, but Amorim has insisted he will stick by his 3-4-3 philosophy.
Shearer feels that resulted in a chasm between them and Manchester City in their 3-0 drubbing last weekend – and that Amorim cannot avoid a repeat.
He told Betfair: ‘It was men against boys last weekend at the Etihad. They were miles apart in terms of ability, system, attitude and whatever else you want to name despite what Man United have spent in the summer.
‘I don’t think they can afford to be beaten like that again this weekend. If they were then you’d have to fear for what’s going to happen going forward for the manager.
‘Something must improve rapidly. Man United can’t be lingering in 14th/15th/16th in the Premier League. There hasn’t been an improvement at all up to now and that can’t continue with what they spent.
‘There has to be something that gets them going and if that doesn’t happen quickly then everyone knows the rules when it comes to football management.
‘It’s on both the manager and players but I do think there’s a lot in the system and despite what the manager says, he’s not going to change his ways, he’ll stick to that system.
‘He’s either going to die on his sword or get the success that he needs. At the minute it looks really negative, and I don’t think a lot of those players are suited to the system.
‘Amorim knows, he believes, and he will either keep or lose his job. It’s a really interesting weekend and one where he can’t take another beating like they did last weekend.’
The Portuguese still retains the support of the club hierarchy but such messaging can sometimes be deceptive.
Daily Mail Sport has also revealed how some of United’s stars have never been comfortable with Amorim’s way of playing despite him now having been in the job for 10 months.
United spent £236million in the summer, backing Amorim with the signings of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Senne Lammens, but that has not yet paid off.
They have also carted off most of their various ‘bomb squad’ and peripheral players – Alejandro Garnacho permanently to Chelsea and Antony to Real Betis, while Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Rasmus Hojlund have gone out on loan to Barcelona, Aston Villa, and Napoli respectively – but that has not lifted the mood. Only Tyrell Malacia remains.
It does not help his case that Rashford stuck two past Newcastle on Thursday night to give Barcelona a 2-1 Champions League win, another sign of revival for a player who has gone away from Old Trafford.
Crashing out of the Carabao Cup to Grimsby was an embarrassment to their expensively squad and Shearer is not the only one who fears for Amorim.
Gary Neville said after the City defeat: ‘Man Utd are 14th, we’re only four games in,’ Neville said on Sky Sports.
‘We can’t be getting into October where Man Utd are 14th or 15th in the league otherwise the manager will be in trouble. They have to start winning quickly.
‘Next week if they lose [against Chelsea], they would go to 15th and 16th. It’s five games in and before you know it you’re in October and they’re in the bottom half of the table. And that’s where they can’t be, having spent £200million and giving him a pre-season.
‘There’s got to be a turnaround pretty quickly, and the manager’s idea has got to land very quickly with the players.
‘I’m worried about the manager, I’m worried about what’s going to happen in this next few weeks.
‘I don’t think it’s a time for panic, but I’ve seen this before, we’ve seen this film.’
