Every Manchester United player should be fearful for their job with Ruben Amorim set to take over as head coach next week.
That’s the view of former Red Devils midfielder Nicky Butt who has cast an expert eye over recent developments at Old Trafford.
Butt, who made 387 appearances for United, knows all about the high expectations at the club having lifted six Premier league titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League during his time under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Butt admits the standards have slipped heavily since his time at the club, something that must change if Amorim is to help return the glory days to Old Trafford.
And according to Butt, that must start with the players, some of whom appear too comfortable with their status in the starting XI.
“I think regardless of the decade we’re in at Man United, every player should be under the impression that someone can come and take your place at any time,” Butt told talkSPORT.
“I think that’s what big football clubs are like no matter who you are.
“There’s maybe like two or three players every generation that know they’re okay, like Roy Keane and Eric Cantona.
“But the rest of the players in a squad like Man United must always be looking over their shoulder thinking at any one point there’s a young lad coming through or the manager’s going to go and buy a world star.
“We have to get back to that at Man United,” he added. “Everyone should be nervous about what’s going to happen over the next nine to 12 months.
“Every single one of Man United’s players aren’t playing to the level they should be.”
Butt’s despondency surrounding Manchester United’s current plight is best captured by his claim that none of the current crop would get into the Manchester City, Liverpool or Arsenal team.
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“It kills me to say it,” Butt said. “I’ve been a Manchester United fan since the age of six. You’ll say that Bruno’s [Fernandes] a fantastic player, which he is, he’s a top talent.
“You could say one or two others but they’re not standing out, they’re not performing at the highest level and you can see it at the end of every season, how many Man United players are getting in the Team of the Year?
“There’s none and it’s sad to say but that’s a fact.”
Butt has urged the club to give Amorim time to implement his own methods and build a squad capable of challenging for the title.
SInce Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the club’s longest-serving manager having spent three years in the hot seat.
Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag were given just two-and-a-half years to turn around the club’s fortunes.
Louis van Gaal spent two years in charge at Old Trafford while David Moyes was handed a measly nine months.
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Asked what Amorim will be inheriting upon his arrival at Old Trafford next week, Butt was damning in his response.
“An average squad if I’m honest. A team of individuals that seem to play for themselves,” he said.
“I watched the game on Sunday (against Chelsea). I would never say people don’t work hard and don’t run but I think they do it on their own back. They don’t do it as a unit and I don’t know what Man United is.”
