A former Manchester United player under Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that the current Red Devils squad under Ruben Amorim are currently “under pressure.”
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has overseen a rough start to life in England after he replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout in 2024.
Erik ten Hag’s reign at United came to an end last October with his sacking and Ruud van Nistelrooy temporarily took over as interim United manager.
United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy led the Red Devils for four matches before Amorim arrived at the Premier League club from Sporting CP last November.
The Red Devils have made progress in both the Europa League and the FA Cup in the 2024-25 campaign under former Sporting CP boss Amorim.
However, United’s struggles have continued in the Premier League and the Red Devils have only managed eight wins in 26 league matches this season.
Amorim’s men are currently 16 points adrift from fourth-place Chelsea and United are only 13 points above the Premier League relegation zone.
Ex-Man Utd player on Red Devils
Federico Macheda played under Sir Alex Ferguson and the 33-year-old Italian striker made a sensational debut under the legendary former Manchester United manager.
The former United player, who is currently at Super League Greece side Asteras Tripolis, offered his two cents on the situation around his former side this season.
Macheda boldly claimed that even Barcelona and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski would struggle to make an impact in the current United first-team squad.
Ruben Amorim has seen his United team struggle with regular goalscoring output amid the respective forms of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund in the final third.
When asked if he could do better work leading the frontline for United, he told The Sun newspaper: “Now? At 33? I think I could play there. Yes. Do better? I don’t know.
“I must say it’s not easy to play for Manchester United now but I think I could still play there.
“Personally, I like [Joshua] Zirkzee and [Rasmus] Hojlund. The club is under pressure. The situation is not easy for any striker, even if you put Lewandowski in the team.
“But as a player, I can see myself playing there at the moment. A couple of games if Ruben Amorim needs me!
“I know the Premier League level. It’s very difficult but I could play there. Why not?”
Ferguson’s praise for Macheda
Federico Macheda famously scored a crucial late winner for United after he came off the bench in a 3-2 Premier League win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford in 2009.
The former United player’s career at the Red Devils never took off after his memorable debut, but Macheda claimed that Ferguson thought very highly of him.
“Sir Alex would tell everybody I was the best finisher in the club,” he said.
“I was surprised. It was the best team in the history of Manchester United with the names and quality.
“He must have some special feeling for me and for sure hoped things would be different for me.”
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