- Ruben Amorim made the brutal admission about his stars after the Brighton loss
- Now the United boss has been told that it could backfire in the dressing room
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Are Everton where they deserve to be or are the club’s fans delusional?
Ruben Amorim has been warned that his players could react negatively to him labelling them ‘maybe the worst team in the club’s history’.
The Manchester United boss made the startling admission after their 3-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday, which left them 13th in the Premier League.
With six defeats in 12 in M16, this is the club’s worst start to a season at home for 131 years and Amorim did not hide from an ‘unacceptable’ start.
But pundit Michael Dawson, who used to captain Tottenham, felt Amorim was playing a risky game by being so blunt in public.
‘I’m not so sure I’d be very happy if my manager came out and said I was part of the worst Manchester United team in history,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘I understand what he’s trying to do but this is becoming embarrassing.
Ruben Amorim has been warned his players could react negatively to his latest comments
Michael Dawson fears that admitting his United team are ‘maybe the worst in the club’s history’ could backfire for the Portuguese
United have their worst home record for 131 years after losing 3-1 to Brighton on Sunday
‘If you’re part of that dressing room, and we talk about confidence with Spurs, and I watched them (United) against Southampton in midweek, when Amad (Diallo) gets a hat-trick, it was covering up the cracks.
‘They won 3-1, no problem, and you move on to the next.
‘We didn’t see the game today, but it sounds like it was another damaging defeat and this is worrying because Ruben Amorim knew he had a big job on his hands. I’m not too sure he knew it was this big.’
Amorim’s United side are averaging just a point a game, having picked up 11 in the 11 Premier League matches he has managed since replacing Erik ten Hag.
They went behind within five minutes to Brighton after Yankuba Minteh’s goal although they did go in level at the break thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ equalising penalty.
And they could not stop the tide in the second half as Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter netted to help Brighton do the season double over their beleagured opponents.
United’s worst-ever finish in the Premier League came last season under Ten Hag when they finished eighth. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, they never finished below third in the rebranded top flight.
‘We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,’ Amorim admitted.
The dismal afternoon marked Manchester United’s tenth Premier League defeat of the season
‘I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change it. Here you go: your headlines.
‘It’s unacceptable to lose so many games for any Premier League club, so imagine Manchester United?
‘The opponents are better than us in many details. I am just here to help my players, but we need to understand we are breaking all the bad records.
‘In 10 games in the Premier League, we won two. I know that. Imagine what this is for a United fan. Imagine what this is for me. We are getting a new coach who is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that.
‘I knew it was going to be hard to put a completely new idea in the moment, but when you lose games it becomes really hard,’ he added. ‘So that’s why I’m telling you we are going to suffer because I will continue to do the same. I am not going to change, no matter what.’
Amorim also criticised his players for losing discipline and shape towards the end of the game.
‘Everybody was changing position and that is something I will not see again. We can lose but we have to maintain position,’ he said.
‘We try to have possession and control the ball, but the players are anxious. This is not acceptable.
‘I know we can succeed but we need to survive this moment. I am not naive. We need to survive now.’
