Ruben Amorim Makes Worrying Admission About Manchester United’s Mentality

Leadership and Mental Toughness Under Scrutiny

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has called on his squad’s leaders to help restore confidence among their struggling teammates, admitting that some players are “afraid” on the pitch.

A Rocky Start for Amorim

Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag earlier this season, has endured a challenging start to his tenure at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have suffered defeat in six of their last 11 matches across all competitions, including five losses in their last six Premier League outings.

As a result, United find themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, a staggering 23 points behind rivals Liverpool. The prospect of relegation, once unthinkable for a club of United’s stature, is now being whispered in some quarters.

Amorim’s Candid Admission

Speaking ahead of United’s daunting trip to league leaders and bitter rivals Liverpool, Amorim highlighted the fragility of his squad’s mentality:
“Sometimes they are afraid on the pitch,” the Portuguese coach admitted. “We need the leaders to step up and help the other guys. I’m the most responsible person here to improve the performances. You can see the players are trying, but sometimes they’re too anxious and too afraid to play football because this is a difficult moment.”

Amorim acknowledged the weight of expectation and pressure that comes with managing a club of United’s size:
“When you are losing, there’s a lot of pressure. It’s hard to cope with all the problems, bad performances, and losses. It’s supposed to be really hard. The only thing that can help me is training with the players. I also have my family here now, and that makes a big difference for me personally.”

Relegation a Grim Reality?

While Amorim downplayed the idea of relegation, he admitted it is a “possibility.” He urged clarity and focus:
“I’m not thinking about that. I just want to look at the next game. It’s really, really important to be clear with the players and the supporters.”

The Anfield Challenge

United face a formidable challenge in their next match against Liverpool at Anfield, a ground where they last won in 2016. On that occasion, a late Wayne Rooney strike secured a narrow 1-0 victory under Louis van Gaal against a Liverpool side featuring Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Mamadou Sakho, Emre Can, and Alberto Moreno.

For Amorim, turning the tide at Anfield could be the spark his team desperately needs to salvage their season.

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