August is not yet over, the season is only three games old, and Ruben Amorim is already dropping big hints that talks over his future as Manchester United head coach will come during the international break that begins next week.
That is the clear interpretation of his words after United were knocked out of a cup competition by a fourth-tier team for the first time in their history on Wednesday.
Amorim had the ignominy of walking back out onto the Blundell Park pitch, where his players had laboured to a penalty-shootout defeat having come from two goals down to draw 2-2, to be greeted by hundreds of jubilant Grimsby Town fans singing at him, “Sacked in the morning”.
He then proceeded to give the impression that he might well take the matter out of the hierarchy’s hands, telling UK broadcaster ITV: “I think the players spoke really loudly about what they want today. Something has to change, and you’re not going to change 22 players again. It’s hard to face everything. We move to the next game, then we have time to decide things.”
Promoted Burnley are United’s opponents at Old Trafford on Saturday, then there’s a two-week international window after that match until the derby trip to Manchester City on Sunday, September 14.
Chief executive Omar Berrada was recruited from City to try to replicate the success across Manchester, with fellow City old boy Jason Wilcox following after his short spell at Southampton and being promoted to director of football. They are finding the red half of town is a different world entirely.
Berrada was not at Blundell Park, with Wilcox the only member of United’s football leadership team present in the directors’ box, but all those in charge at the club will no doubt be across Amorim’s latest detonation. Their reputations are linked to his now, and figuring out how to proceed will be top of the agenda in the coming days.
Ultimately though, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will make the call. United’s co-owner has entrusted those running the club for him to do so, but he holds strong opinions… and usually shares them.
Ratcliffe has already said how he likes Amorim’s blunt turn of phrase. And the head coach’s round of post-game media interviews in Grimsby certainly displayed his forthright mindset. He gave stark appraisals to Sky Sports, Radio 5 Live, and even in-house channel MUTV, adding to his comments to the written press: “I would like to say very smart things and very important things. I have nothing to say. That is the biggest problem also. To see the same mistakes and nothing to say in this moment. I’m really sorry for our fans. It’s too much sometimes.”
Ratcliffe, pictured consoling Amorim after last season’s Europa League final, will have a strong say in what happens next (James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Only four weeks ago in Chicago, during United’s U.S. pre-season tour, Amorim confirmed he had considered his position at times last season following his November appointment, as The Athletic had previously reported. But he was resolute on having become certain of his course at the club. Reports emerged of the camp being unprecedentedly positive and unified. It seems this was a fragile rebirth, though.
Amorim also said last night: “The way we start the game without any intensity, all the idea of the pressure, we were completely lost, and that’s why I think they (the players) spoke really loud (with their actions).”
United did eventually spasm into a comeback in the final 15 minutes to force the shootout but it was false hope, and in any case, Amorim said, the performance before those spot kicks was the “sign” that “mattered”. He said: “If we win this game, it was so unfair for the opponent.”
Not only did United lose to a League Two club, they were overrun by one which had been rotated by head coach David Artell. Grimsby were not at full strength.
The whole occasion cut an awkward contrast against Berrada’s decree to staff on the eve of this season to work for the United badge with bravery and spirit.
United’s descent to disarray was all the more pronounced because of the setting, with Blundell Park being so far removed from customary. Two United team buses had to painstakingly reverse into position by the players’ entrance, squeezing around tight corners and through a growing throng of people. Kids on parents’ shoulders offered a few choice words to the stars disembarking the coaches, who combined cost more than £700million.
Grimsby chief executive Polly Bancroft, formerly head of women’s football at United, had joked there would not be enough seats in the away dugout, which one substitute, Matthijs de Ligt, made light of by initially sitting on the floor.
Amorim’s agitation was evident at kick-off, as he barked orders before the referee had even blown his whistle for Amad to shift position. Later, Carlos Fernandes, Amorim’s assistant who leads set pieces and stands up whenever there is one happening on the pitch, shouted for Matheus Cunha to move to a more central position in the United box at a corner. Grimsby scored their second goal moments later.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana got the inadvertent assist for that, flapping at a high ball, and he aided the opener too, by letting Charles Vernam’s shot slip through his arms. United are in talks for Royal Antwerp’s goalkeeper Senne Lammens but neither a fee nor personal terms are agreed.
Amorim said the loss was not down to Onana, though: “This is a fourth-division team, Andre should play just with his feet during this game.” But as the skies opened in the second half, and Amorim stood on the touchline getting soaked, he must have wondered quite how Onana had turned in a display so bad.
Amorim prowling his technical area amid torrential rain will be one of the enduring images from this tie, so too his tweaks on the miniature tactics board in his lap as the minutes ticked away. He later rejected the idea that his system is to blame.
Players have to take accountability, of course. This was not a great night for those who have been signed by Ratcliffe’s regime. Patrick Dorgu hit the roof of the stand behind the goal with a cross and was hooked at half-time. Manuel Ugarte, weak for the Grimsby opener, was also replaced at the break. Joshua Zirkzee only got on with eight minutes left as his injury recovery continues at a delicate pace.
Leny Yoro did well in being free from this blemish, as he was left at home. Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United’s two Premier League signings this summer, missed their shootout penalties, although the latter had got his team back into the game with a neat finish.
Benjamin Sesko made little impact and was, curiously, United’s last outfield penalty taker — converting after Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and De Ligt. Mainoo played the full contest, another intriguing subplot in light of his displeasure at falling down the pecking order.
As the shootout ran on and on to 12-11, Amorim sat back in the dugout, his eyes closed on occasion, unable to watch.
When Mbeumo smacked the bar on his second go-around to finally end the tie, the home crowd burst onto the pitch. Kids were on shoulders again, in an echo of United’s arrival in town hours earlier. Fernandes, alongside United’s new team manager Acacio Valentim, shielded Mbeumo from those looking to goad.
United are a punchline again. But, in light of Amorim’s apparent state of mind, how will they attempt to reclaim seriousness? Stick on current plans in the final days of the summer transfer window, or does this provoke a rethink about a possible twist in the final days? And is this the earliest crisis-mode ever activated in a United campaign?
(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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