Alan Shearer makes prediction over Ruben Amorim’s future after rant against Man Utd hierarchy | Football

Alan Shearer says he ‘doesn’t see it lasting much longer’ for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United after the manager’s stunning outburst against the club’s hierarchy on Sunday.

Having already hinted at problems behind the scenes on Friday, Amorim waited until the very end of his press conference after United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds to launch an apparent attack on the board.

In an explosive 122-word rant, the 40-year-old underlined that he joined United to be the ‘manager’ and ‘not just the coach’, before suggesting he intended to ‘move on’ when his current contract expires in 2027.

‘I just want to say that I’m going to be the manager of this team, not the just the coach, and I was really clear on that,’ Amorim told reporters.

‘That is going to finish in 18 months and then everyone is going to move on. That is the deal, that is my job, not to be a coach.

‘If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club.’

The former Sporting boss went on: ‘Now guys, I just want to say that I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach.

‘Every department: the scouting department, the sporting director needs to do their job.

‘I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on.’

United’s draw at Elland Road means the club have picked up a total of just three wins from their last 11 matches in the Premier League, a wretched run of results that leaves them three points off the top four in sixth place.

But Amorim’s post-match fireworks took much of the attention away from Sunday’s contest between the two bitter rivals, with the spotlight focused firmly on the Portuguese’s future once again.

Prefer us to the others? Then tell Google!

As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.

Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

The Red Devils had appeared to have turned a corner back in October when they won all three of their games in the English top flight against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton.

But according to ex-England striker Shearer, United’s results over the course of Amorim’s reign have been ‘nowhere near good enough’ and he is ‘fighting a losing battle’ by starting a war with the board.

‘Look at his results and record since he’s been at Manchester United, it’s been nowhere near good enough,’ Shearer said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

‘I could get [Enzo] Maresca, I get that because of what he’s done and what he’s achieved.

‘But I think he [Amorim] is fighting a losing battle and there’s only going to be one winner.

‘It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s not there much longer at all because he just hasn’t got enough in the bank to be coming out and taking the board on like that.’

Shearer believes Amorim’s rant may have come after being instructed to move away from his 3-4-3 system – advice the Portuguese followed against Newcastle, before reverting to type at Leeds.

‘I’m only guessing here and I haven’t got a clue, but is there an element that, it makes me think this anyway, that he’s been told he has to be adaptable and change that system,’ Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer, added.

‘He changed it against Newcastle, they got the result and he’s gone back to his three in the Wolves game, didn’t get the result.

‘And he’s probably thought, “I’m going to do it my way, I’m not being told how to play or what to do” which is probably one of the reasons why he said, “I am the manager, I will do what I want to do and I’m not the coach, I’m the manager and that’s what the agreement was”, yet his title is head coach.

‘Maybe I’m reading into things… up until the Newcastle game he was adamant in every single interview that he is not changing system and then he went off-piste and changed the system, then the next game went straight back to his own.

‘He’s probably thought, “I’m not getting any players in January so what’s the point?”, and I think that’s maybe what his rant is today.’

The former Newcastle, Blackburn and Southampton forward warned Amorim that ‘there is only one winner’ when a manager starts attacking the board on a regular basis.

‘They [United] wanted him that badly and they were obviously prepared to get him out of his contract early because he wanted to wait,’ Shearer continued.

‘They said, “No, you’re coming in now”, so they knew the system he was going to play, they knew who he was and what he was.

‘I don’t know… I don’t see it lasting much longer, I really don’t. When a manager or a coach comes out and says that against either the sporting director or the CEO or whoever it may be.

‘There’s only one winner there, you know that.’

Following back-to-back draws with lowly Wolves and Leeds, United will look to get their season back on track at Burnley on Wednesday night.

Victory at Turf Moor could see Amorim’s men rise to as high as fourth in the table, depending on results elsewhere.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Jamie Carragher sends clear message to Manchester United board over Ruben Amorim

MORE: Paul Merson says Arsenal star could cost Mikel Arteta the Premier League title

MORE: Rio Ferdinand reminds Man Utd of £65m transfer mistake after Leeds draw