Gary Neville Exposes Ruben Amorim's Critical Error at Manchester United
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has publicly identified what he describes as the "worst decision" made by Ruben Amorim during his disappointing managerial spell at Old Trafford. Amorim, the 41-year-old Portuguese coach, was dismissed by the Premier League giants last month after a tenure lasting just 14 months.
Amorim's Underwhelming Reign at Old Trafford
Amorim arrived at Manchester United with a strong reputation, having secured two league titles while in charge of Sporting CP. However, his time at United proved challenging, with the club finishing a dismal 15th in the Premier League last season. Although he guided the Red Devils to the Europa League final, the campaign ended in a lackluster defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
This season showed some signs of improvement under Amorim, but United remained outside the Champions League qualification spots at the time of his sacking. Neville generally supported the club's decision to remove Amorim, citing the manager's public criticism of superiors and persistently unconvincing team performances as justifiable reasons.
The Mainoo Mismanagement Controversy
Neville pinpointed Amorim's treatment of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as the most significant error of his tenure. Mainoo, regarded as one of United's brightest prospects after a breakthrough season under previous manager Erik ten Hag and impressive performances for England at Euro 2024, saw his opportunities diminish under Amorim.
The manager initially suggested Mainoo was competing with influential captain Bruno Fernandes for a place in the team, a claim Neville strongly disputed. This situation led Mainoo to request a loan move last summer, and he was expected to seek another transfer in January before Amorim's dismissal.
Since Amorim's departure on January 5, Mainoo has started all but one of United's matches, emerging as one of the team's standout performers over the past month. This resurgence highlights the potential wasted during Amorim's management.
Neville's Blunt Assessment
"Kobbie Mainoo didn't even get a chance under Ruben really," Neville stated on the Stick to Football podcast. "If you think about it now and look at Mainoo in this team, that looks like the worst decision Ruben Amorim made."
This is not the first time Neville has criticized Amorim's handling of Mainoo. Last month, he accused the manager of "killing" the United academy graduate, particularly objecting to Amorim's early-season suggestion that Mainoo and Fernandes were competing for the same position.
"I never liked the handling of that," Neville emphasized. "It killed Kobbie Mainoo. It killed him publicly. And then he never put him in the team at all, apart from against Grimsby in the cup."
United's Post-Amorim Resurgence
Manchester United's form has improved significantly since Amorim's dismissal, with the team returning to the Champions League qualification places. Under caretaker manager Michael Carrick, United won four consecutive matches before drawing 1-1 with West Ham United in their most recent outing. The Red Devils face Everton next Monday as they continue their push for European football.
The dramatic turnaround, particularly Mainoo's emergence as a key player, underscores the consequences of Amorim's managerial decisions during his brief and turbulent time at Old Trafford.
