Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Manchester United must “suffer short term” under Ruben Amorim ahead of putting their focus on securing “short-term successes.”
Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent Manchester United manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era after his arrival from Sporting CP in 2024.
The 40-year-old Portuguese manager succeeded Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout after the former United and Ajax head coach was sacked last October.
Erik ten Hag oversaw a disastrous start to the 2024-25 Premier League season with United before Ruud van Nistelrooy took his place in the dugout as interim manager.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was assistant manager under Ten Hag, steered the ship for a four-match interim spell before he left Old Trafford in November 2024.
Amorim, who inked a contract with United until June 2027, has overseen a mixed start to life at the Premier League club since he became United manager.
The former Sporting CP boss has not minced his words and made it clear that United could suffer pain in the short term before things turn around in the long term.
Ferdinand backs Amorim’s plans at Man Utd
Ruben Amorim wasted no time stamping down his authority at Old Trafford and immediately changed Manchester United’s playing style on the pitch.
The United manager has preferred to use a three-man backline for the Red Devils, which brought him major success in his native homeland with Sporting CP.
Amorim has stuck with his formational system and tactics, despite United’s up-and-down results in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Rio Ferdinand claimed that United have “big problems” and they “need to weed them out” during Amorim’s reign at Old Trafford.
“Man United need to suffer short term rather than look at short-term successes,” he said.
“They have big problems and need to weed them out and then they become teething problems and hopefully go.”
“That isn’t going to happen overnight and it’s not going to happen in a couple of months.
“Amorim has said he is willing to have a little bit of hurt and pain short term for a gain and positives in a year’s time.”
Ferdinand on Amorim and ex-Premier League manager
United are 12th in the Premier League table and the Red Devils are 13 points clear of 18th-place Wolves after 23 matches played in the current campaign.
Amorim’s men are 12 points adrift from the Premier League top four and United face a tall order challenging for a Champions League qualification spot.
Ferdinand admitted that he ‘doesn’t mind’ Amorim’s preference to play a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation, but the United legend did make an astute observation.
The 46-year-old pundit highlighted that ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is the “only manager” to have won the Premier League title using a three-man backline.
“I don’t mind 3-4-3 as long as you don’t play five at the back,” Ferdinand added.
“I think if you get penned back to become five for large periods in games then more often than not, you’re going to lose and you give the opposition more opportunity to win.
“We have seen teams that can play it. I think Antonio Conte is the only manager who has won the Premier League playing that formation.
“Italy have played it and been successful, Inter [Milan] have played it and been successful and there are others.
“It’s all about personnel as well. Have you got the right personnel to play it? Is the group coachable to play that formation?
“There are a lot of questions and answers that are needed. But I’m sure this manager is working all that out on the job.
“It’s so difficult mid-season because he hasn’t had pre-season, he hasn’t been on the grass for long periods to coach. He looks like a real coach who wants to have time on the pitch.
“He’s not been afforded that but that’s why any judgement now and any knee-jerk reactions are way off because he needs the time with the team to implement his ideas.”
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