Ruben Amorim has insisted he is Manchester United’s manager, not just the coach, and said that he may “move on” after the remaining 18 months of his contract at Old Trafford amid an apparent power struggle over transfer policy at the club.
In an impassioned press conference after Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Leeds at Elland Road, the Portuguese also pointedly told the scouting department and sporting director “to do their job”.
“I noticed that you receive selective information about everything,” he said after Matheus Cunha’s goal cancelled out Brenden Aaronson’s opener, keeping United sixth in the table. “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United – not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear. I know my name is not [Thomas] Tuchel, [José] Mourinho or [Antonio] Conte but I’m the manager.
“It’s going to be like this for 18 months or until the board decide to change. I’m not going to quit, I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”
When asked about transfer policy, he said: “Every department, the scouting department, the sporting director, needs to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on.” He added: “If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club”, before abruptly ending the press conference.
The 40-year-old’s official job title is, in fact, head coach. But his comments strongly suggest he feels he is owed a greater say in transfer policy as his relationship with Jason Wilcox, the director of football, become increasingly strained. It has also been reported that United’s head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, has questioned his tactics.
Amorim’s outburst comes after he dropped strong hints in the run-up to the Leeds game that there were tensions over transfer strategy and his style of play. United are dealing with an injury crisis and the absence of key players to the Africa Cup of Nations. But despite the transfer window opening this week, Amorim said on Friday that “we have no conversation at this moment to change the squad”.
