Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has responded to recent comments made by the club’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who claimed that some of the team’s players are “overpaid” and “not good enough.” Speaking at a press conference ahead of United’s crucial Europa League last-16 second-leg match against Real Sociedad on Thursday, Amorim acknowledged the criticism but challenged both himself and his players to change perceptions through improved performances and results.
Ratcliffe’s remarks, made during a series of interviews on Monday, singled out high-profile players such as Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Antony, and Jadon Sancho as examples of costly signings from previous regimes that his Ineos-led football department had “inherited.” He emphasized the financial burden of ongoing transfer fee installments and suggested that some players’ performances do not justify their salaries. “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid,” Ratcliffe told the BBC, adding that reshaping the squad to reflect his vision would take time.
Rather than disputing Ratcliffe’s assessment, Amorim took a pragmatic and introspective stance. “I think if we are being honest, in this moment, everybody—me, all the players—we are underperforming this season,” he said. “So we can always change that, and I include myself in that part of underperforming.” The Portuguese manager specifically highlighted Casemiro, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, as an example of a player capable of far more. “You are talking about players like Casemiro, for example, that won everything, and we know these kinds of players can play so much better,” Amorim noted. “That is the focus. He [Ratcliffe] was honest on that. The focus is to change his mind and to change all people’s minds.”
Amorim’s comments come at a critical juncture for Manchester United, who sit 14th in the Premier League with just 10 games remaining and have been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions. The Europa League represents their last realistic chance of silverware this season, and progression past Real Sociedad is vital to maintaining hopes of European qualification next term. “If you are a top player playing in this club, even me—a lot of people say I am not good enough for the club—my feeling is that you can change that with results,” Amorim said, emphasizing the importance of Thursday’s match. “In training, I feel that they want this really bad, especially for tomorrow.”
– Ruben Amorim on Sir Jim Ratcliffe comments about some players being “not good enough” & “overpaid”
️ “We are underperforming this season. We can change that and I include myself in it.. the focus is to change [Sir Jim Ratcliffe] mind.”
pic.twitter.com/QV7QPv5Kmo— Beyond United (@BeyondUTD1) March 12, 2025
Despite the blunt criticism from Ratcliffe, Amorim revealed that none of his players had approached him to complain about the co-owner’s remarks. “No, nothing. I’ve had nothing,” he said. “I really enjoyed training today.” He also shed light on his relationship with Ratcliffe, describing it as “really good since day one” and built on mutual honesty. “We are really blunt and honest with each other. It’s a little bit our characters; we are quite similar in that sense,” Amorim explained. “I always felt the support of the board and especially Sir Jim. I cannot tell you the conversations, but they are simple, clear, and honest conversations.”
Ratcliffe has publicly backed Amorim, calling him an “outstanding young manager” and expressing confidence that the 40-year-old will remain in charge for the long term. Amorim acknowledged this support, noting that Ratcliffe’s public endorsement is “really good for a coach,” though he stressed that results remain the ultimate measure of success. “I continue to say the same thing—we need results, and we need to improve the team,” he said. “But from day one, I felt the support from everybody here.”