Manchester United have no immediate plans to sack Ruben Amorim but will not seek to appoint Gareth Southgate should they change their mind, according to reports.
Amorim is under increasing pressure after a sluggish start to his first full season in charge at Old Trafford.
Last weekend’s lacklustre defeat to Brentford means Amorim is yet to win successive league games since replacing Erik ten Hag last November, amassing just 33 points from 34 games in that time.
Several former United players have been critical of the Portuguese tactician, with Wayne Rooney suggesting he has ‘no faith’ in Amorim to turn things around at Old Trafford.
But despite that, The Athletic’s David Ornstein suggests that United are not looking to cut ties with Amorim despite his dismal form.
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‘Ruben Amorim is under major pressure but I think most of that pressure is applied by himself as well as the burden of being Manchester United manager,’ he told NBC Sports.
‘But Manchester United, as I understand it, are not planning to sack him – they don’t want or intend to.’
Recent reports suggested that United’s hierarchy had begun drawing up a shortlist of potential candidates to potentially replace Amorim.
Southgate was said to feature on that shortlist, but United are now not said to be considering a move for the former England head coach should they change tack and part ways with Amorim.
‘People have talked of shortlists, I don’t know of any shortlist to replace him,’ Ornstein added.
‘Of course, Man Utd will be looking at options, like every club, and aware of the market, whether it be on an interim basis, longer term or even after the World Cup in 2026.
‘But I’m assured that Gareth Southgate is not in the frame for the Man Utd job should it become available.’
Not everyone is in agreement with that decision, though, with former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink confident that Southgate would be a ‘brilliant’ option to revive United’s fortunes.
‘Gareth would be a great appointment,’ Hasselbaink told Sky Sports. ‘He’s good at talking to the media. He gives young players opportunities, which is what Manchester United stand for. He’s got a brilliant playing style, he wants to play good football and dominant football.
‘He will calm it down, he will be clear, in that aspect, he would be a brilliant appointment. He is very assured of his way, where he wants to go, and his communication skills in communicating with the people around him and the players.’
United will look to get back to winning ways against Sunderland, but Amorim admitted that his side’s fortunes will have to improve if he is to stay in the job.
‘Nobody here is naive. We understand that we need results to continue the project,’ he said on Friday.
‘We will reach a point that is impossible for everyone because this is a very big club with a lot of sponsors, with two owners.
‘So it’s hard, the balance is really hard. What I want is to see my team – winning or losing – playing the same way and we are not doing that.’
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