Alan Shearer’s feelings on why Ruben Amorim dropped a Manchester United bombshell in his post-match press conference have sparked a telling reaction from fellow pundit Micah Richards.
Leeds United hosted Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon and the Red Devils walked away with a point from their encounter at Elland Road.
What do YOU think of Ruben Amorim’s latest comments? Is there trouble behind the scenes?
“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the head coach.
“I know my name is not Conte, Tuchel, Mourinho but I’m the manager of Manchester United. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or until the board decide to change.
“I’m not going to quit. I’ll do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.
Ruben Amorim
However, United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United was overshadowed by Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim aiming his criticism at the Premier League club’s hierarchy.
Speaking at his post-match press conference on Sunday, Amorim’s comments about United led to an instant reaction over his eye-catching assessment.
United manager Amorim put his feelings forward on his role at the Red Devils, what others should be doing at Old Trafford and his long-term future at the Premier League club as well.
Alan Shearer has one idea to explain why Ruben Amorim launched his ruthless criticism after Man Utd’s draw vs Leeds United
Ruben Amorim had been cryptic about the Red Devils’ transfer business in the January window ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Leeds United.
The 40-year-old former Sporting CP head coach’s latest remarks around United have caught the attention of pundits, including Premier League legend Alan Shearer.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer developed a theory that Amorim’s comments could be closely tied to him changing his tactical set-up in recent weeks.
When discussing Amorim, Shearer said: “I’m only guessing here and I haven’t got a clue, but is there an element that makes me think anyway that he’s been told he has to be adaptable and change that system?
“He changed it against Newcastle and they got the result and he’s gone back to his three [at the back] in the Wolves game and 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.’”
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Shearer continued: “Which may be one of the reasons why he said, ‘I am the manager and I will do what I want to do. I am not the coach, I’m the manager and that’s what the agreement was.’
“Yet, his title is head coach, isn’t it?
“Yeah. Maybe I’m reading into things because up until the Newcastle game, he was adamant in every single interview [that] he is not changing system. And then he went off and changed the system.
“But then the next game went straight back to his own and he’s probably thought, ‘Well, I’m not getting any players in January, so what’s the point?’ And I think that’s maybe what his rant is today.”
Micah Richards’ response to Alan Shearer’s Man Utd and Ruben Amorim theory after the Leeds United result
Amorim finally pivoted his United tactical system for the 1-0 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford before U-turning for the 1-1 home draw against Wolves only days later.
Shearer’s theory around Amorim’s annoyance towards potential interference with his playing style led to a defence from Richards around the United manager.
“He’s allowed to be frustrated, though, isn’t he?” Richards asked in response to Shearer.
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Richards continued: “Because he might [have] got told you’re going to get a couple of windows, you’re going to get these players and it’s not happened. The manager should be able to manage the players and what goes on.
“That’s what a manager is supposed to do. I know the new modern game, it’s all about coaches. We’ve talked about Liam Rosenior coming in as potentially a coach [at Chelsea].
“It’s going to be the board, probably he was going to make the signings and you’ve just got to coach these players.
“But you’ve been a manager, Al [Shearer], like you have to make the decisions because you’re the one who’s getting abused every week when it doesn’t go right.
“And that’s the way I feel for Amorim there because he should be allowed to make decisions and this is not what he signed up for, essentially.”
United’s next Premier League outing will be at Turf Moor and the Red Devils will face Burnley in their match on Wednesday evening.
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