Ruben Amorim is expected to have a significant amount of time to turn things around at Manchester United, according to co-owner Jim Ratcliffe. The Portuguese manager took charge of the Red Devils nearly a year ago, but the transition has not been smooth.
Since joining in November last year, Amorim has faced considerable challenges. Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League table last season and failed to qualify for European competitions after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. Despite these setbacks, there was some positive activity during the summer transfer window, with the club signing players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko. However, on-field results have not improved significantly.
A recent win over Sunderland helped improve the team’s standing, moving them up to 10th in the league with 10 points from seven games. However, this was not enough to fully lift the team out of their current situation. Amorim also faced a difficult moment in the Carabao Cup, where they were defeated by Grimsby Town on penalties.
Amorim has not met the expectations of the club’s management since taking over from Erik ten Hag. However, Ratcliffe remains confident and is urging patience. He pointed to other successful managers who initially struggled, suggesting that Amorim could be given up to three years to prove himself.
“I remember the pressure on Alex Ferguson in his first two years,” Ratcliffe said on The Times’ The Business podcast. “You look at Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. He had a tough start.”
“We are results-driven, but we must be patient and see through the results. There are many good things at Manchester United. We need to be patient and have a long-term plan. It isn’t something that can be fixed overnight.”
Ratcliffe emphasized that Ruben needs to demonstrate his coaching abilities over the next three years. When asked if he believes three years is the likely timeframe for Amorim, he confirmed, “Yes. That’s my stance. Football doesn’t change overnight.”
Another long-term goal for Ratcliffe is to rebuild the Manchester United academy, which he believes has declined in recent years. To achieve this, Stephen Torpey has been appointed as the new academy director, bringing in fresh expertise. Ratcliffe sees the academy as crucial for both player development and financial stability.
“The academy has really slipped at Manchester United,” he explained. “It needs to consistently produce talent. This helps the club financially.”
“This isn’t something that can be fixed quickly. It takes time. We just recruited a new academy director.”
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