Ruben Amorim, the head coach of Manchester United, is just nine days older than Cristiano Ronaldo. In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, the legendary former United player acknowledged that while he believes Amorim is performing well, he cannot work ‘miracles’ given the club’s current challenges. Ronaldo, a former international teammate of Amorim, highlighted that while some players at United possess talent, others lack the necessary mentality to thrive at the club. When asked about Ronaldo’s remarks during a media session ahead of his team’s match against Tottenham, Amorim refrained from addressing them directly, emphasizing the need to focus on the future. “He [Ronaldo] understands the significant impact his words can have,” Amorim stated. “As a club, we recognize the many mistakes we’ve made in the past, and we are actively working to rectify them. Let’s not dwell on prior events. We are implementing extensive changes—revising our structure and player expectations. We are on the path to improvement, and it’s time to move forward.” Ronaldo, who left United to join Real Madrid in 2009 and returned from Juventus in August 2021, had his contract terminated in November 2022 after publicly criticizing the club and expressing a lack of respect for then-manager Erik ten Hag in a past interview. In his latest conversation with Morgan, the 40-year-old expressed sadness over the club’s situation, stating, “The club is one of the most important in the world and holds a special place in my heart. They lack a solid structure, and I hope that changes for the better because the club’s potential is immense. They’re currently on an unfavorable path, which goes beyond just the coach and players. Amorim is doing his utmost, but miracles are impossible.” Amorim took the reins of United in November 2024 and led the team to the Europa League final last season, albeit with a loss to Tottenham that prevented them from qualifying for this year’s Champions League. The team finished 15th in the Premier League, their poorest result since the 1973-74 season, which saw them relegated. Despite an investment of over £200 million in the summer transfer window, United started the current season slowly, facing an early exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two team Grimsby Town. Although Amorim has faced pressure, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe expressed that it may take three years for Amorim to demonstrate his capabilities as a great coach. In a March interview, Ratcliffe lamented the club’s performance since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, noting that some players were not meeting expectations and were overcompensated. Recently, United has shown signs of improvement, winning three of their last four league matches—including a notable victory against Liverpool—and currently sits eighth in the table.
