Amorim Retains Man Utd Backing Despite Brentford Loss

Amorim Retains Manchester United Support Despite Brentford Defeat

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim remains in his position despite growing external pressure and a disappointing 3-1 defeat away at Brentford which left United languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.

The result halted any momentum gained from the previous week’s win over Chelsea, and extended United’s streak to eight league away games without a win — their worst such run since 2019.

Amorim: “I’m not concerned about my job”

Speaking after the defeat, the 40-year-old Portuguese coach insisted he wasn’t worried about speculation over his future:

“I am never concerned about my job – I’m not that kind of guy. It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here.”

Despite mounting pressure, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly still backing Amorim, believing it is only fair to judge the manager after a full season with a team more in line with his vision.

Players & Pundits Weigh In

Matthijs de Ligt defended his manager, saying the players on the pitch must take responsibility:

“It’s always easy to look to the manager but in the end the players on the pitch have to do it.”

But the pundits were less forgiving:

• Alan Shearer: “Amorim is under massive pressure… he’s very fortunate to still be in the job.”

• Martin Keown: “He has only a 1% better win rate than Graham Potter when he was sacked.”

• Micah Richards: “Amorim’s stubbornness with the 3-4-2-1 formation could be his undoing.”

Tactical Stubbornness Exposed

Amorim has stuck rigidly to a 3-4-2-1 system, which has been criticized for lacking flexibility:

• He was outsmarted by Brentford boss Keith Andrews, who adjusted to a back four for better midfield control.

• United’s defense was exposed early, with Igor Thiago scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes.

Key defensive mistakes included:

• Harry Maguire misjudging the offside trap from a poor starting position.

• Altay Bayindir pushing a cross back into the danger zone, leading to a goal.

Amorim’s response to criticism was laced with sarcasm:

“When we win, it’s not the system. When we lose, it’s the system.”

Missed Opportunities & Mental Fragility

Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty — his second miss out of three this season — further highlighting the team’s lack of confidence under pressure.

United have now conceded the first goal more than any other team in the league since Amorim took over in November 2024.

“We knew how Brentford would play,” said Amorim. “We trained for this. That’s what makes it frustrating.”

Man Utd Stats Under Amorim (So Far)

• League games managed: 33

• Points earned: 34

• Consecutive wins: 0

• Win %: 33%

• Away winless run: 8 games

What’s Next for Manchester United?

• Next Match: vs Sunderland – Premier League – Saturday at Old Trafford

• No midweek fixtures offer no distraction from the scrutiny building on Amorim.