As I sat in the upper tier of the Stretford End on Boxing Day in the freezing cold, I witnessed the final hope of Ruben Amorim’s success at Manchester United.
The game was just over a week before Manchester United decided to sack Ruben Amorim. However, despite the long-standing underperformance under the head coach, he still had Old Trafford’s support.
I was one of the 70,000 fans singing his chant that day, backing the manager until the very end, as United claimed a huge 1-0 win over Newcastle, or at least it felt that way.
It was that night that Amorim convinced me for the final time of his promise of ‘good days’ on the way.
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I would be lying if I said doubts were not there as I travelled to Old Trafford on Boxing Day, and they remained pre-match as I made my way through the concourse and to my seat.
However, Amorim intrigued me when I saw he had moved to a back four, and his change had a positive impact on the game.
I had been to see United play a handful of times in the weeks prior, yet this was the best Amorim’s side looked. Amorim awoke Patrick Dorgu as a forward, with his goal being enough to secure a 1-0 win, while the players in general just exuded confidence.
Amorim also used the academy, trusting Jack Fletcher in a high-pressure moment, which left many, including me, with a smile as he seemed to be leaning into being United manager and what that entailed.
So as United held on to a 1-0 lead, I joined in with the renditions of the now infamous chant.
“Ruben Amorim, He’ll bring the glory days again, we’ll back him from the Stretford End, He’ll turn the Reds around, Ruben Amorim”.
It is safe to say, he had once again convinced me that things would eventually work out, and I left the ground that day believing that Amorim had turned a corner.
However, I was very wrong, but it was the last time he tricked me.
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Ruben Amorim promised good days at Manchester United, but they never arrived
At the end of last season, Amorim promised fans the good days were coming, and given his charisma, the fanbase was totally on board.
“We fight each other or we stick together and move forward. Six months ago, in my first three games in charge, with two victories and one draw, I said to you the storm is coming.
“Today, after this disastrous season, I want to tell you the good days are coming. If there is one club in the world that proves in the past that it can overcome any situation, any disaster, it’s our club, it’s Manchester United Football Club.”
On a number of occasions, it looked like these days had arrived, after beating Liverpool, stringing three wins together, and finally beating bogey side Newcastle.
But I can now reflect that this was the last time I believed Amorim would succeed at United, as there were back-to-back disappointing draws after this game, along with the explosion behind the scenes.
I thought this win was the start of United’s revival, but really it was the beginning of the end for Amorim.
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