Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear that manager Rúben Amorim will be given the full three years of his contract to prove himself, despite widespread criticism and a disappointing start under his stewardship.
Ratcliffe, who controls the club’s football operations through INEOS, said that patience is essential as United undertake a long-term rebuild aimed at restoring their status among Europe’s elite.
Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November last year, has come under growing pressure from fans and media after overseeing just ten Premier League wins out of 34 matches and presiding over United finishing 15th in the 2024-25 season — their lowest top-flight placement since 1973-74.
While the results have been underwhelming, Ratcliffe remains steadfast that change will not come overnight. “Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years,” Ratcliffe said. “Yes. That is where I would be. Three years. Because football is not overnight.”
Drawing parallels to other managers who were initially under siege, Ratcliffe cited the early struggles of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Mikel Arteta at Arsenal as examples of why immediate results should not dictate a club’s trajectory. “You look at Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time over the first couple of years,” Ratcliffe remarked.
The message is clear: Ratcliffe wants a stable foundation. He rejected suggestions that the Glazer family — majority owners who remain involved in major decisions — could force an early dismissal. “It’s not going to happen,” he said when asked if he would be compelled to sack Amorim at the behest of the Glazers. The relationship, he emphasized, is collaborative but Ratcliffe insists his vision for football operations is authoritative.
Amorim, for his part, has publicly acknowledged the criticism. He agreed with Ratcliffe’s statement that several players, including some high-profile signings, have underperformed. “Everybody, me, the players, are underperforming this season,” he said. “I include myself in the underperforming.”
Amorim also noted that he has felt supported by the board, particularly Ratcliffe, saying: “I always felt the support of the board, especially Sir Jim.”
Ratcliffe has been vocal about structural issues, including squad composition and financial sustainability, admitting that Manchester United have inherited overpaid players and imbalance in the team. He has called some decisions in prior years “errors.” In addition, recent cost-cutting measures — staff redundancies, the ending of free lunches, reassessment of wages — are part of his plan to put United on a healthier financial footing.
Critics argue that three years is a long time in modern football, especially at a club of United’s stature, but Ratcliffe has pushed back on that narrative. He warned against knee-jerk reactions from media or outsiders, saying the club cannot run based on short bursts of optimism or criticism. “You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ratcliffe is calling for results, but also for structural evolution: improvements in recruitment, better performance in both defensive and attacking phases, more ruthlessness inside the box, and consistency. Amorim’s philosophy remains intact; he has said he is not willing to abandon his tactical system, believing that evolution, not wholesale change, is the answer.
In his own words, Amorim seems aware of the journey ahead. He has urged the players to respond, recognizing that just playing better is not enough — winning matters. In a high-pressure environment such as Old Trafford, many observers will be watching closely over the coming weeks and months to see tangible progress.